Sang-de-Boeuf Workshop

Sang-de-Boeuf Workshop (ca. 1820 - 1840)



Figure SB.1 – View through the Lens
Gif image © Rod Bantjes.



Figure SB.2 – Lens Frame
Photo © Rod Bantjes.

These boxes are manufactured by what I am calling the Sang-de-Boeuf workshop after the way that François Binétruy describes their distinctive colouring. The other telling detail of construction that identifies boxes from this workshop is the paste-on lens-frame with a stellated pattern (Figure SB.2).

We do not know who owned the workshop or designed the distinctive boxes for it. We know that it was French and active in the 1820s. Its boxes are uniform in design and construction. They are made of lightweight, cheap materials. They are early examples of the industrial production of optical machines as cheap commodities for the middle classes. It preceded the Lefort workshop and likely was an inspiration to it and perhaps competition to it as well.

Each row in the following table represents a different species of box, with minor variants listed in the same row.

Sang-de-Boeuf Exemplar:
	WN-RB02	FB-BO-6903

There were minor variations in this popular box. I am curious to see how the faux terrain and fixed images varied.

Sang-de-Boeuf Single:
	FB-BO-5004

This is a toy, single-lens version of what I am calling the exemplar (above).

It is in the François Binétruy Collection. Photo © François Binétruy.

Boît à Tirettes:
	FB-BO-30

This is a toy showbox with a flytower activated by a pull-string mechanism.

It is in the François Binétruy Collection. Photo © François Binétruy.

Petite Boît à Tirettes:
	FB-BO-1842

This is a much smaller version of FB-BO-30 (above).

It is in the François Binétruy Collection. Photo © François Binétruy.

Narrow Pyramid:
	WN-GT456

Wide Pyramid:
	SL-1820-03	FB-BO-5005

Trapez-Pyramid:
	SL-1800-01

This box was sold by Antiq Photo, Paris.

Sang-de-Boeuf Workshop (ca. 1820 - 1840)

Figure SB.1 – View through the Lens

Figure SB.2 – Lens Frame

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