Item number: X18

Year: AD 1880–1910

Material: Metal and Glass

Size: 35.7 x 35.7 x 33.8 mm

Weight: 39.25 g

Provenance: Private Collector, France, 2021

This is an insect observation jar featuring a metal base marked with the emblem of a “Gallic rooster,” symbolising France, and the French inscription “MODELE DÉPOSÉ” (registered design). The jar’s top includes a detachable magnifying glass, allowing for detailed observation of insects placed inside. The glass body of the jar also permits viewing of the insects from the side. Upon closer inspection, the glass contains numerous tiny air bubbles, indicating that it was likely crafted using traditional hand-blown techniques.

“MODÈLE DÉPOSÉ” –
This phrase is specific to French design law and was widely used from the mid-19th century onward to indicate a registered industrial design. It is especially common on consumer and educational objects made in France.

Gallic rooster emblem –
The rooster became a prominent national symbol during the French Third Republic (1870–1940) and was frequently used on domestically produced goods, particularly those associated with education, science, or civic pride.

Hand-blown glass with visible air bubbles strongly suggests pre-industrial or semi-industrial production, by the 1920s, machine-made glass had largely eliminated these imperfections in mass-market objects, and the metal construction (likely brass or nickel-plated brass) and fine threading are consistent with late 19th-century craftsmanship.

Based on these 3 facts, it is likely that this insect observation magnifying jar was made around the year AD 1880–1910.

When discussing France and insects, the world-renowned entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre naturally comes to mind. Born in AD 1823 in the southern French province of Aveyron, Fabre grew up in a modest household and had to leave school to work. Despite these challenges, he earned a degree from the Paris Academy of Sciences through persistent self-study while working. At the age of 45, Fabre purchased a plot of land in the village of Sérignan in southern France, naming it the “Harmas,” where he conducted meticulous observations and studies of insects.

In AD 1877, Fabre experienced the tragic loss of his 16-year-old son Jules, who shared a similar temperament to his own. The following year, at the age of 55, Fabre channelled his grief into writing and published the first volume of Souvenirs Entomologiques (The Life of Insects). He completed the tenth and final volume at the age of 83. After the publication of Souvenirs Entomologiques, Fabre gained widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally. However, he remained devoted to his passion for insects, continuing his observations and research until his death in AD 1915 at the age of 91.

物件編號: X18

年代: 公元 1880–1910

材質: 金屬, 玻璃

尺寸: 35.7 x 35.7 x 33.8 mm

重量: 39.25 g

來源: 法國私人收藏 2021

這是一個製作年代不明的昆蟲觀察放大罐，觀察罐的金屬底部有一隻象徵法國的「高盧公雞」標記和法文戳記「MODELE DEPOSÉ」(註冊型號)。這個觀察罐的頂部是一個可拆卸的放大鏡，能將採集到的昆蟲放進罐子後，從頂部放大觀察昆蟲的行為和特徵。玻璃罐身也能讓人隔著觀察裡面的昆蟲，若仔細觀察罐身的玻璃能發現許多微小的氣泡，代表這件玻璃極可能是人工吹製的工藝產物。

「MODÈLE DÉPOSÉ」－
此詞語源自法國設計法，於 19 世紀中期起廣泛使用，用以表示已登記的工業設計。該標示常見於法國製造的消費品與教育用途物件上。

高盧雄雞（Gallic rooster）徽章－
雄雞於 法蘭西第三共和國時期（1870–1940） 成為重要的國家象徵，經常出現在法國本土生產的製品上，特別是與教育、科學或公民精神相關的物件。

可見氣泡的手工吹製玻璃 強烈顯示其屬於前工業或半工業生產；至 1920 年代，機械製玻璃已在大眾市場中大幅消除這類瑕疵。此外，其金屬結構（可能為黃銅或鍍鎳黃銅）與細緻的螺紋工藝，皆符合 19 世紀末 的製作特徵。

綜合以上三點判斷，此昆蟲觀察用放大玻璃罐極可能製作於 公元 1880–1910 年左右。

一提到法國和昆蟲就會聯想到世界知名的昆蟲學家尚-亨利·法布爾。公元1823年，法布爾出生於法國南部的阿韋龍省，由於家境清寒被迫輟學就業，但後續仍憑藉著半工半讀的努力得到巴黎科學院學位。法布爾在45歲時，於南法的塞西尼翁村買了一塊土地，並且命名為「荒石園」對於昆蟲進行仔細的觀察和研究。公元1877年，歷經性格最為相似的16歲次子朱爾早逝的衝擊。隔年55歲的法布爾化思念為力量出版《昆蟲記》第一冊，並且於83歲完成最後的第十冊。法布爾在《昆蟲記》出版後名聲於國內外水漲船高，但是他仍不忘喜愛昆蟲的初心持續觀察記錄，直到公元1915年以91歲高齡逝世為止。