Antique Parisian foot warmer sold in Bon Marché, Paris

A wonderful 19th century carriage foot warmer, made for and sold by the oldest department store in the world, Au Bon Marché in Paris.

∆∆∆ Please support small business, save money and buy on my website. For my *best prices* go to: www.oakydokevintage.co.uk ∆∆∆

A lovely walnut veneer box raised on bun feet with a nicely aged dull brass carry handle and securing hook and eye.

The lid is of a soft deep red fabric which bulges over the metal canister hot water bottle within, with its brass screw lid and original manufacturer’s metal badge (an identical brass one can be found to the base of the wooden box, so the two parts have always been together). The badge reads ‘Au Bon Marché Paris Maison A Boucicault Fourrures’.

Aristide Boucicault founded the department store on the left bank in Paris in 1852 with his wife Marguerite.

The metal bottle once filled would have its lid tightened and placed in the fluffy insulating fabric lined box which would then be closed with the hook and carried, and placed on the floor on its feet like a little portable warm footstool.

As shown in the photo, there are small holes in the metal so this is not currently in working order. These could be filled by a metal worker, but this unusual item is being made available as a curious and elegant French collectable object from another era, with the provenance of the most prestigious and earliest department store in the world, Au Bon Marché, Paris.

Exterior box measures 29cm wide X 25.5cm deep X 11cm tall.

A wonderful 19th century carriage foot warmer, made for and sold by the oldest department store in the world, Au Bon Marché in Paris.

∆∆∆ Please support small business, save money and buy on my website. For my *best prices* go to: www.oakydokevintage.co.uk ∆∆∆

A lovely walnut veneer box raised on bun feet with a nicely aged dull brass carry handle and securing hook and eye.

The lid is of a soft deep red fabric which bulges over the metal canister hot water bottle within, with its brass screw lid and original manufacturer’s metal badge (an identical brass one can be found to the base of the wooden box, so the two parts have always been together). The badge reads ‘Au Bon Marché Paris Maison A Boucicault Fourrures’.

Aristide Boucicault founded the department store on the left bank in Paris in 1852 with his wife Marguerite.

The metal bottle once filled would have its lid tightened and placed in the fluffy insulating fabric lined box which would then be closed with the hook and carried, and placed on the floor on its feet like a little portable warm footstool.

As shown in the photo, there are small holes in the metal so this is not currently in working order. These could be filled by a metal worker, but this unusual item is being made available as a curious and elegant French collectable object from another era, with the provenance of the most prestigious and earliest department store in the world, Au Bon Marché, Paris.

Exterior box measures 29cm wide X 25.5cm deep X 11cm tall.