Old enamel plaque bearing the inscription "ROUGE ANGLAIS" (English Red), from a set of enamel plaques that equipped the drawers of an old paint merchant's cabinet. English Red referred to a red pigment based on iron oxide, used in painting to obtain red to reddish-brown tones; this name is attested in old pigment directories. Paint merchants supplied pigments, paints, and various raw materials to painters, decorators, and artisans; their drawer cabinets allowed these numerous powders and preparations to be stored separately, each compartment being identified by a plaque like this one.
✦ Estimated period: Circa 1900-1920 ✦ Provenance: France, former paint merchant ✦ Dimensions: approx. 13 × 3 cm ✦ Material: Enamel plaque ✦ Condition: Good used condition, with enamel chips on the edges, traces of oxidation, marks and wear consistent with age.
Old "Rouge Anglais" enamel plaque, a beautiful professional object linked to historical pigments and old paint merchants.
