TRADE CARDS

Trade Card	Trade Card of Francois Tiron, Goldsmith and Jeweller, A La Pomme d'Or; Circa 1725	Trade Card of De Hansy, Bookseller, A Saint Nicolas; 1720-1750

This year sees the culmination of a three year research project, funded by the Leverhulme Trust and a collaboration with the University of Warwick , to catalogue our important collection of 18th-century trade cards. These humble documents, regarded as paper ephemera, which were produced by shop keepers, craftsmen and tradesmen to advertise their shops and wares, give an astonishingly detailed glimpse into the consumer world of the 1700s. The project has inspired some of our exhibitions for the season. "All that Glitters: Shopping and advertising in 18th-century Paris" sets the trade cards in context and gives a sense of what luxury shopping was like, whether looking for dress accessories, paper products, the latest gourmet delicacy or furniture.

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