The evolution of the travel inkwell systems in France and Europe began with an ability to trasport an inkwell for use with a Quill nib. Created of ebony and gold the paintwork, Vernis Martin, exhibits fabulous scenes of culture and costumery.
Vernis Martin is a term commonly used to describe French lacquer from the 18th century, particularly associated with the Martin Brothers.
The Martin family, including Guillaume as the eldest brother, established a lacquer workshop in Paris around 1710. In their pursuit to compete with lacquer work from China and Japan, they developed a cost-effective imitation of copal-based lacquer around 1728.
This new technique allowed for the decoration of furniture and lacquer panels in a less brittle and more elastic finish, making it suitable for curved surfaces as well. As a result, Vernis Martin became highly popular, bringing harmony to furniture with intricate curvature that could not be easily achieved with traditional lacquer techniques.