Field easel with paint box – French box easel, mid-20th century

Field easel with paint box – French box easel, mid-20th century

A true French field easel: a paint box with easel (chevalet de campagne, French box easel, sketch box easel) that allowed a painter to work outdoors, en plein air. Folded, it is a handy wooden case with a leather handle and brass catches; unfolded, the box stands on three telescopic legs, with an adjustable canvas holder and a ledge for the canvas. The box contains a pull-out drawer with zinc compartments, still filled with old paint tubes (including Talens and Bourgeois). The wood bears the branded mark ‘Breveté S.G.D.G. – Made in France’, with an emblem of a paint box on an easel with a palette (photo 8).

Why we chose this piece

This easel has clearly been used for years: paint splashes everywhere, dried blobs on the canvas ledge and a drawer full of squeezed-out tubes. That makes it a little piece of painting history. Such an easel is still a pleasure to work with outdoors, but folded in a studio or living room it is also a beautiful object with a story.

Style and interior

Lovely in a studio, an industrial or brocante interior, or as an eye-catcher in a bookshop, gallery or shop window. Unfolded with a small painting on it, it is a special way to display art; and of course it can still be used for painting.

Dimensions: folded 39 x 55 x 18 cm; unfolded it holds a canvas up to max. 80 cm high (width unrestricted); in its lowest position the canvas ledge is 96.5 cm from the floor and it is height-adjustable
Material: wood, brass fittings and wing nuts, leather handle, zinc compartments in the drawer
Maker/Mark: branded ‘Breveté S.G.D.G. – Made in France’ with an emblem of a paint box on an easel with a palette; maker not identified. The S.G.D.G. patent mark was used in France until 1968
Period: mid-20th century
Origin: France
Condition: used condition with lots of character. The wood is sturdy, with paint splashes and stains throughout, dried paint on the canvas ledge and inside the box (photos 1, 6 and 7) and wear to edges and corners. The leather handle is worn and cracked (photos 3 and 5). The brass fittings, clamps and wing nuts are complete and have a patina; a single screw has been replaced later. The drawer runs well; the zinc compartments are stained with paint. The paint tubes are used and dried out and are included as decoration. Two small string loops are attached to the canvas ledge (photo 1).

Price:
€ 245

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