Rat carved out of coconut shell

19th century

Sculpted coconut shell with open work, metal (copper alloy) and glass (eyes)

Made by an exiled convict

Height 12.22 cm, diameter 63 cm

Château de Chamerolles, Geographer's Office, Promenade des Parfums

This small object is in danger of going unnoticed in the Geographer's Office with its plethora of curiosities of an early 19th century scholar, including maps, prints and an imposing herbarium. However, its presence in the room is just as significant as the other objects of the geographer: it is the work of a bagnard, or convict. Bagnards were convicts sentenced to prison terms, that is, exiled to forced labour establishments often located on islands (this item is a carved coconut). Life expectancy in these places was very low.