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Last updated 5/8/2025

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'Le travail manuel a l'ecole et dans la famille' by Bertrand, Toussaint and Gombert was published by Loucene, Oudin et ces Editeurs in Paris in 1890. My thanks to Juan Gimeno for telling me about this work.

A full copy of the work can be accessed online here.

The work is essentially a manual of Froebelian occupations and additional occupations that have ben added to the syllabus to develop skill at manual work, but one designed to be used in the home as much as in the school. It contains sections on Pliage (paperfolding), Tissage (weaving), Decoupage (folding and cutting), Cartonage (cardboard modelling), Collage, Noeuds et Tresses (knots and braids), Piquage (pricking), Vannerie (basketry), Fil de Fer (wirework), Bois (woodwork), and Modellage (clay modelling).

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This Preface refers to a childhood friend of the writer who could 'construire la boite a plumes permis, quelquefois la cage a nouches defendue' (build the permitted pen box, sometimes the forbidden fly cage). The 'boite a plumes' should probably be identified as the Pencil Case, even though it is called 'Etui a plumes' when it appears later in the book.

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Analysis

This analysis does not include details of designs made by the Cardboard Modelling technique.

Pliage

Chapeau de gendarme - The Newspaper Hat

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Mitre - The Mitre

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Etui a plumes - The Pencil Case

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Vide-poches - The Wall Pocket

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Bateau - The Paper Boat

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Boite simple - The Collapsible Box

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Portfeuille - The Wallet

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Claque - The Paper Banger

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Table simple - The Table

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Bateau double - The Double Boat

From a singly blintzed square

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Moulin - The Windmill

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Berceau (cradle) - The Boat with Sail

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Soufflet - The Bellows

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Bateau a voiles - The Double Boat with Two Sails

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Porte-cigares (cigar holder) et saliere - The Salt Cellar and The Pepperpot

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Jardiniere

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Autre berceau

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Veste - The Jacket

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Pantalon - The Trousers

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Chaise - The Chair

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Table

This table is made by opening out the back of The Chair.

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Bateau Double - The Double Boat

From a doubly blintzed square

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Casier a musique - The Portfolio

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Panier - The Junk Box Basket

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Glace - The Looking Glass

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Gondole - The Chinese Junk

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Tissage

This section is most about Frame Weaving but includes a few pages on the Free Weaving technique.

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Decoupage

This section explains some fold and cut designs based on the square and the hexagon.

A method of cutting a hexagon from a folded square is given.

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This section also includes instructions for making a few Fold, Cut and Fold Animals

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This section also includes instructions for making designs using paper strips, ie a form of Verschnuren

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Cardboard Modelling also falls within this section.

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Noeuds et Tresses

This section of the book explains some designs made by weaving straw.

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Selected Pages

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