A Régence 'Bois de St. Lucie' casket and toilet mirror

each carved with foliate rinceaux and flowerheads, the box also carved with birds.

These finely carved objects belong to a group commonly known as bois de Bagard.  They were produced in Lorraine in the late 17th and early 18th century using a cherrywood with a distinctive reddish tone and fine grain called Saint-Lucie.  The term is associated with the court sculptor to duc Charles IV of Lorraine, Cesar Bagard (1620-1704), however it is highly unlikely that he was involved in the production of these goods, which were more than probably produced by the Foulon family of Nancy sculptors (see H. Demoriane, 'Bois de Bagard', Connaissance des Arts, January 1968, p. 91).