Title
Sablé covered pin cushion, tribute to Marie Antoinette
Caption
Pin cushion made by the Demoiselles of Saint Cyr as a tribute to Marie-Antoinette and her legend.
Commemorating the first balloon flight experiment carried out in the first court of honour in the château de Versailles on 19th September 1783.
Sablé (technique combining thread with small glass beads ) (14.3 x 5.7 cm)
Muller-Quênot Collection
Info+
At the time of this flight in the presence of the Royal Family, a wicker basket containing a sheep, a rooster and a duck was suspended from the balloon. The pin cushion's design shows the image of a young woman with a sheep watching the hot-air balloon, accompanied by the rebus: J ♥ M E 7 LV (I love this takeoff)
In the centre there are three fleurs de lys bearing the French arms, and either side there are forget-me-nots with the initials of Marie-Antoinette.
The Queen had baptised the sheep "Monte au ciel" (Up to the sky).
Date
18th century
Credit line
Photo12/Association Muller Quenot Rosheim
Reference
MQR10A00_112
License type
Rights managed
Available size
31,3Mb (3,4Mb) / 7,3in x 16,5in / 2202 x 4961 (300dpi)