C. 1840s French Maison Berville Full Box of "Venetian" Charcoal Sticks ruled paper and thus to my eye

and thus to my eye making it quite an empathetic creature

this one I know dating to 1824 based on the portfolio it came from

Lion measures 2 1/2" l

my guess might be that these were done as first hand sketches out west

With what I believe are all the original wires joining the figure's limbs

C. 1840s French Maison Berville Full Box of "Venetian" Charcoal Sticks ruled paper and thus to my eyeThese is a scarce French box of "Venetian" charcoal sticks, distribued by the Maison Berville in Paris and dating to about 1840; I found one box of them just like this in the digital collection of the Huntington Library. I've got a thing for antique art supplies (so romantic feeling, and as embodiments of creative potential) and for French paper labels, too, and what is purer more immediate and essential feeling than a box full of charcoal twigs? Rich