I didn't realize French butcher shop dioramas were such a thing prior to finding this one the other day, but indeed there is a long history of them; a quick search turns up a number of quite extraordinary 19th century examples. This from Christie's: "Model butcher shops...were probably made to fulfill an educational role, designed to be studied rather than played with as toys, as the cuts of meat and types of carcasses are rendered with some accuracy." And while this one doesn't compete with some of the much more elaborate early examples (including one held in the collection of the V&A) I think it is pretty fabulous--and the slabs of meat, crafted of clay, indeed quite realistic! And a whole pig head on one of the shelves below--with what I presume are intestines just to its left!
6 1/2" t x 5 " w x 1 3/8" d. I'd guess mid 20th c. or so, and missing a few bit on the bottom shelf. Otherwise good condition (and meat hanging on hooks at top can actually be removed for close inspection!)
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