Long Brass Vide-Poche in the Shape of a Feather

The feather has long served as an emblem of lightness, grace, and the art of writing — and it is this rich symbolic charge that animates this long vide-poche, cast in warm golden brass and modelled with careful attention to the natural structure of a feather. The central rachis runs the full length of the piece, from which the barbs radiate outward in a gentle sweep, each one indicated through shallow relief that catches the light with delicate variation.

At 61 centimetres in length, this is a commanding object despite its slender profile. It would have served on a writing desk or console table as a repository for letters, keys, or small personal effects — its form a playful reference to the quill pens of an earlier era. The brass has acquired a warm patina over the decades, softening the original brilliance into a mellow golden tone that suits the piece well.

This kind of refined bibelot, combining functional utility with sculptural wit, is characteristic of the best French decorative arts production of the late 1960s and early 1970s — a period when artisans and designers sought to elevate the everyday object into something worthy of long contemplation. The feather motif in particular enjoyed considerable currency in this era, appearing across furniture, jewellery, and the decorative arts.

A distinguished addition to any desk, console, or display surface, this vide-poche would sit well alongside objects from the same period or as an elegant accent in a more classical interior.