Box of compasses and drawing and measuring instruments. Maison Renaud-Tachet, France, ca.1850.

Box of compasses and drawing and measuring instruments. MAISON RENAUD-TACHET, France, ca.1850.
Rosewood box with marquetry and brass ornaments.
Steel instruments, bone, wood and bakelite accents.
Complete.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.

This measuring instrument case, by the prestigious French firm Maison Renaud-Tachet, encapsulates the design excellence, craftsmanship and engineering precision of the French Second Empire. Its aesthetic refinement and the meticulousness of its instruments position it as an object of high quality, intended for a professional (architect, engineer, cartographer or scientist) who valued functionality as much as beauty. Most of the compasses (dry-point, extension, proportions), drawing lines and dividers are made of high quality steel. This material, polished and tempered, not only ensures the durability and rigidity necessary for precise tracing, but also exhibits a brilliance that attests to manufacturing excellence. The fine points and smooth articulation of the hinges are indicative of the technical mastery of the metal craftsmen. The incorporation of bone in the handles of the line pullers, the extensions of some compasses or the scales of the small rulers, is a distinctive feature of the precision instruments of the period. The rulers, squares and other linear measuring elements are made of hardwood, which guaranteed dimensional stability and precision in the engraving of the scales. The case is made of rosewood, beautifully grained and enhanced by subtle marquetry and brass ornaments on the fittings. The interior is lined with red velvet.