{"product_id":"flea-market-item-26-294","title":"Flea Market Item 26-294","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a French brass stencil plate for the word “CANTONNIER”, dating most likely from the late 19th to early 20th century (c. 1880–1920). It is a wonderful piece of French industrial ephemera and is considerably less common than alphabet stencils.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA cantonnier was the road worker responsible for maintaining a designated section (“canton”) of road. Before mechanised road maintenance, every stretch of road was assigned to a cantonnier, who repaired potholes, cleared ditches, cut back vegetation, spread gravel and kept the roadway passable. The profession became formalised in France during the 19th century under the Ponts et Chaussées (Bridges and Roads Administration).  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis single-word stencil was made for repetitive use. It was probably used to mark one of the following:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA tool chest or equipment box belonging to the cantonnier.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA locker, cupboard or storage cabinet in a road maintenance depot.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA canvas bag, timber crate or leather satchel containing the road worker’s equipment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Times New Roman;\"\u003eResearch shows that this\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003estencil dates from around 1890–1920.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eIt measures \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15x2.5cm \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Forage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49072127803636,"sku":null,"price":80.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/1621\/7332\/files\/unnamed-1_ed0b2979-615c-48b3-b0b1-407ee1b4a1e8.jpg?v=1785981422","url":"https:\/\/www.foragebylisamattock.com.au\/products\/flea-market-item-26-294","provider":"Forage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}