Jean Ducrollay

Jean Ducrollay was a distinguished craftsman specializing in metalworks, documented as active between 1736 and 1758. His career spanned the mid-eighteenth century, focusing primarily on the creation of small, luxury utilitarian objects requiring high levels of technical precision.

The known surviving output of Ducrollay consists entirely of metalworks, with twelve pieces represented in established museum collections. These works confirm his status as a significant artisan of the period, whose pieces focused on the popular format of personal containers. Documented examples include several instances of the Snuffbox, a general Box, and the more complex Double snuffbox. A particularly descriptive work, the Snuffbox with pastoral scenes, suggests an engagement with fashionable Rococo decorative themes prevalent during his active decades.

The historical importance of Ducrollay's production is underlined by the inclusion of his works in major institutional holdings. His metalworks are permanently preserved in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The fine detail evident in these examples confirms their museum-quality standard. While details regarding the artist’s life are limited, the technical excellence of his output ensures his legacy. Today, high-quality prints documenting objects from this era, now often entering the public domain, are utilized for both academic study and artistic inspiration.