Pierre Marcel Augustin Chevallier, 1797 - 1841
"A. Chevallier", "Chevallier Ingéneur Opticien"
Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, 1819 - 1883
Adélaïde Amanda Queslin, 1838 - 1898
Alfred Jean François Baserga, 1833 - 1901
"Maison Chevallier"
A. Fontana
"Maison Chevallier" (ca. 1899 until after 1922)
by Brian Stevenson
last updated May, 2020
Nineteenth century Paris was home to two important families of optical workers that had very similar surnames, Chevallier and Chevalier. Many published histories mix the two families together, incorrectly assuming that they were close relatives or, even, the same people. The family Chevallier, spelled with two “LL”, was made famous by Jean Gabriel Augustin Chevallier (1778-1848), who was Optician to the King, and often signed his products “L’Ingéneur Chevallier”. The family Chevalier, spelled with one “L”, consisted of the father-son-grandson trio of Vincent Chevalier (1770-1841), Charles Chevalier 1804-1859), and Arthur Chevalier (1830-1872).
Another source of confusion, J.G.A. Chevallier had a son who operated an independent scientific instrument business, Pierre Marcel Augustin Chevallier, who occasionally also signed products as “Ingéneur”. Only the addresses differentiate some products of the father and son, J.G.A. being located at 1 Quai de l'Horloge and 15 Place du Pont-Neuf, while P.M.A. had his shop at 1 Rue de la Bourse.
In addition, P.M.A. Chevallier was evidently known as “Augustin”, and he often signed microscopes and other instruments with “A. Chevallier”. Such works are often confused for those of the later Arthur Chevalier.
The businesses of the Chevallier father and son were taken over by Alexandre Victor Ducray (1810-1879) and Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, respectively. Both businesses called themselves “Maison Chevallier” (house of Chevallier). The two competitors added further to the confusion by both advertising as the sole successor to Chevallier (both technically correct, although I suspect that Queslin sought to benefit from confusion between his predecessor and the far better known J.G.A. Chevallier).
This essay focuses on the son, P.M.A. Chevallier, and on Amédée Queslin and his successors. The businesses of J.G.A. Chevallier and of the Chevalier family are described in separate essays on this site.
Figure 1.
A drum-pattern microscope, signed “A. Chevallier Rue de la Bourse a Paris”, indicating retail by Pierre Marcel Augustin Chevallier. It appears to be identical to microscopes that were manufactured in the mid-1830s by Trécourt and Oberhaeuser, and was quite likely produced by that firm and resold by Chevallier. Adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet auction site.
Figure 2.
A drum-pattern microscope signed “Maison Chevallier L’Ingr Queslin Optn rue de la Bourse Paris”. Three other, identical microscopes are known, none of which have Queslin’s name, indicating that Queslin probably did not manufacture this instrument. Two are signed by Andres Krüss, of Hamburg, Germany: https://www.musoptin.com/item/trommelmikroskop-a-kruess-191-um-1858, and http://www.antique-microscopes.com/photos/kruss.htm. Krüss was an established manufacturer of optical equipment, and is the most likely manufacturer of these microscopes. The fourth example was sold between 1857 and 1861 by Louis Mauss in Chicago, Illinois (shown in this linked essay).
Figure 3.
Drum-pattern microscope with rack-and-pinion coarse focus, signed “Maison Chevallier Queslin L’Ingr Opticien Paris”. Adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet auction site.
Pierre Marcel Augustin Chevallier was born in 1797, the elder boy of the five children of Jean Gabriel Augustin and Thérèse Mélanie Chevallier (née Cotel). Presumably, he trained with his father, learning to manufacture optical and scientific apparatus.
Young Chevallier set up his own shop between 1833 and 1836; he is not listed in the 1833 Almanach du Commerce de Paris, but is recorded in the 1837 edition as having an optical business at 1 Rue de la Bourse (Figure 4) In 1836, Chevallier published a pamphlet that described his "Gleuco-oenometre" (Figure 7).
The presence of two optical businesses in Paris named “Chevallier”, in addition to the competitor Chevalier family, created confusion among potential customers. Antoine and William Galignani's 1839 New Paris Guide recommended J.G.A. Chevallier, “mathematical-instrument-maker and optician to the King”, and concluded with the statement “M. Chevallier has no other depot either in Paris or the Departments”.
P.M.A. Chevallier died on November 10, 1841, being only 43-44 years old. He left his wife with two young daughters. The Chevalliers evidently owned the optical shop at 1 Rue de la Bourse, as his widow, Marie, was assigned rental rights for the space.
On February 16, 1842, Marie Chevallier was authorized to rent “à Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, ingénieur opticien, et Sophie Joséphine Dupuy, son épouse, demeurant 1, rue de la Bourse, de boutique, arrière boutique, divers lieux, au rez-de-chaussée et à l'entresol, chambre de bonne, d'une maison située 29, place de la Bourse et 1, rue de la Bourse. Loyer annuel de 3 000 francs, payable par trimestre” (“to Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, optician, and Sophie Joséphine Dupuy, his wife, residing at 1 Rue de la Bourse, shop, back shop, various places, on the ground floor and the entry, maid's room, of a house located at 29 Place de la Bourse and 1 Rue de la Bourse. Annual rent of 3,000 francs, payable quarterly”).
An unconfirmed source states that Amédée Queslin was born in 1819; that date is consistent with verified facts of his life. Queslin married Sophie Joséphine Dupuy in December, 1837. Their marriage contract listed him as an “ouvrier opticien” (optical worker), residing at 1 Rue Payenne. Queslin is not listed as operating a business in the 1837 Almanach du Commerce de Paris, suggesting that he then worked for someone else. The couple had at least one child, daughter Adélaïde Amanda Queslin, born on November 30, 1838.
Not long after opening his shop, in 1843, Queslin published a book of instructions for daguerreotype photography (Figure 8). It also contained a list of instruments produced and supplied by Queslin, including cameras and photographic supplies, microscopes, telescopes, and many types of other optical and scientific apparatus (Figure 9). This implies that Queslin took on Chevallier’s business with a broad, established skill set.
Also that year, Queslin was selling “Doctor Roth’s” automatic calculator (Figure 10). That device was invented during the early 1840s by David “Didier” Roth (1800-1885).
In addition to Quelsin’s optical shop, 1 Rue de la Bourse included several other operations. An 1847 directory listed that address for Queslin and four other businesses, including a tailor and a dentist.
Amédée’s wife divorced him in 1847. Government files recorded “Procès-verbal d'ouverture des opérations de liquidation des reprises de Sophie Joséphine Dupuy, demeurant 44, rue Blomet, contre son mari, Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, opticien, demeurant 1, rue de la Bourse, dont elle est séparée de corps et de biens par jugement par la quatrième chambre du tribunal civil de la Seine en date du 2 juillet 1847” (“Minutes of the opening of the liquidation proceedings of Sophie Joséphine Dupuy, residing at 44, rue Blomet, against her husband, Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, optician, residing at 1, rue de la Bourse, of which she is separated Property by judgment of the Fourth Chamber of the Civil Court of the Seine dated July 2, 1847”).
Queslin’s daughter, Adélaïde Amanda, married Alfred Jean François Baserga on May 21, 1860. Baserga came from a family of scientific instrument makers, most noted for their barometers. The 1862 Almanach included “Baserga fils (A.), instr. de physique et de chimie” along with “Queslin (A.), opticien”, indicating that the Basergas lived with and worked alongside Amédée for some period of time.
For many years, as both a service and an advertisement, daily temperature readings to local publications were provided from readings of “le thermométre de la maison Queslin, rue de la Bourse”.
Amédée Queslin died in 1883.
Directories of Paris indicate that the Queslin-Chevallier business continued at Rue de la Bourse until at least 1898 (Figure 13). The operation was probably run by Amanda Queslin Baserga and/or Alfred Baserga. Amanda’s 1898 death record shows that her residence was then 1 Rue de la Bourse. Alfred Baserga died in 1901, in the Alfortville section of Paris.
The “Maison A. Chevallier” business was acquired by one “A. Fontana” in either 1898 or 1899. He merged the operation with that of Charles Gaggini in November, 1902. Investigations are ongoing to learn more information on Fontana.
The 1922 Almanach du Commerce de Paris listed Fontana with the Chevallier shop at 1 Rue de la Bourse. The shop was still listed in the 1925 edition, although Fontana’s name was not included - it is not currently known whether he was still involved, nor how much longer the business persisted.
Figure 4.
Entry on Chevallier, 1 Rue de la Bourse, from the 1837 Alamanch du Commerce de Paris.
Figure 5.
Barometer, signed “A. Chevallier Ingnr Opticien, Rue de la Bourse No. 1 á Paris”. Images courtesy of Georges Tock.
Figure 6.
Meridian canon, signed “A. Chevallier Ingnr Opt Rue de la Bourse á Paris”. Currently in the Przypkowski Museum of Horology, Jedrzejow, Poland.
Figure 7.
Cover of P.M.A. Chevallier’s 1836 pamphlet on his Gleuco-Oenometre.
Figure 8.
Within a year and a half after acquiring Chevallier’s business, Amédée Queslin published a book on daguerreotype photography. Note that he described his business as “Successor dé Chevallier”. J.G.A. Chevallier (the father) had sold his business to son-in-law Alexandre Ducray in early 1842, and Ducray was also advertising himself as the successor to Chevallier.
Figure 9.
List of optical and scientific items that were available from Queslin in 1843, from his book on photography.
Figure 10.
An 1843 advertisement for Roth’s automatic calculator.
Figure 11.
A telescope signed “Maison Chevallier Queslin Ingr Opticien Rue de la Bourse No.1 Paris”. Adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet auction site.
Figure 12.
Opera binoculars signed “A Queslin” on the eyepieces. Adapted for nonprofit, educational purposes from an internet auction site.
Figure 13.
Excerpts from the 1898 Almanach du Commerce de Paris, indicating that the Chevallier-Queslin shop was still in business, and offered a range of scientific instruments and optical supplies. It was probably operated by Amanda Queslin and Alfred Baserga.
Figure 14.
A small microscope, not signed, with a label attached to the lid, "Mon Chevallier, A. Fontana Sr, Opticien, 1 R. de la Bourse, Paris". Similar unsigned microscopes are seen with some frequency, and were undoubtedly manufactured by a wholesale maker for retail by shops such as Fonatana’s. Image courtesy of Carlene Cordova.
Figure 15.
A pocket thermometer, signed "Mon Chevallier, A. Fontana Sr, R. de la Bourse 1, Paris". It is one of the few known instruments that are signed by Fontana (ca. 1900 - 1902). The mercury thermometer is approximately 2 inches / 5 cm long, mounted on ivory, and encased in a burl wood case, approximately 4 inches / 10 cm when folded shut.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Georges Tock for generously providing images of a P.M.A. Chevallier barometer and for helpful historical information, and to Carlene Cordova for sharing the Fontana microscope picture.
Resources
Almanach du Commerce de Paris (1833) page 213
Almanach du Commerce de Paris (1837) page 238
Almanach du Commerce de Paris (1862) page 1218
Almanach du Commerce de Paris (1898) pages 2010, 2016, and 2019
Almanach du Commerce de Paris (1898) pages 2010, 2016, and 2019
Almanach du Commerce de Paris (1900) page 483
Almanach du Commerce de Paris (1925) page 2702
Annuaire Général du Commerce et de l'Industrie (1847) “Queslin (A.), ingénieur-opticien, rue de la Bourse, 1”, page 247
Annuaire Général du Commerce et de l'Industrie (1855) “Queslin (A.), ingénieur-opticien, Bourse, 1”, page 379
Annuaire Général du Commerce et de l'Industrie (1855) “Baserga, construceur d’instruments de physique et chemie, place Dauphine, 24”, page 379
Birth record of Alfred Jean Joseph Baserga (1833) accessed through ancestry.com
Birth record of Adélaïde Amanda Queslin (1838) accessed through ancestry.com
Chevallier, A. (1836) Instruction sur le Gleuco-Oenometre, A. Belin, Paris
Death record of Amanda Baserga (1898) accessed through ancestry.com
Death record of Alfred Jean Joseph Baserga (1901) accessed through ancestry.com
Galignani, A., and W. Galignani (1839) Galignani's New Paris Guide, A. and W. Galignani and Co., Paris
Gazette des Tribunaux (1843) Advertisement from A. Queslin for Dr. Roth’s automatic calculator, June 13 issue
Journal Officiel de la République Franc̜aise (1880) daily temperatures, provided by Queslin, page 9109 and others
La Presse (1902) "La Maison Ch. Gaggini, opticien, rue de l'Echelle, est réunie a la Maison de l'ingénieur A. Chevallier, A. Fontana, successeur, 1, rue de la Bourse", November 4, 1902, page 4
Marriage record of Pierre Marcel Augustin Chevallier and Marie Rose Mathilde Albert (1836) March 19, accessed through ancestry.com
Marriage contract of Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin and Sophie Joséphine Dupuy (1837) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Marriage contract of Adélaïde Amanda Queslin and Alfred Jean François (sic) Baserga (1860) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Marriage records of Adélaïde Amanda Queslin and Alfred Jean Joseph Baserga (1860) accessed through ancestry.com
Queslin, Amédée (1843) Daguerreotype Rendu Facile, Queslin, Paris
Record of inventory after the death of Thérèse Mélanie Cotel Chevallier (1841) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Record of inventory after the death of Pierre Marcel Augustin Chevallier (1841) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Record of assignment of rental rights by Marie Rose Mathilde Albert, widow of Pierre Marcel Augustin Chevallier, to Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, optician (1842) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Record of the sale of business from Jean Gabriel Augustin Chevallier to Alexandre Victor Ducray, optical engineer, and Marie Louise Mélanie Chevallier, his wife, residing at 1, Quai de l'Horloge (1842) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Record of the opening of the liquidation proceedings of Sophie Joséphine Dupuy, residing at 44, rue Blomet, against her husband, Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, optician, residing at 1, rue de la Bourse (1847) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Record of rental agreement from Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin, optician engineer, residing at 1 rue de la Bourse, an apartment on the fourth floor and various places, on the ground floor and the mezzanine of a house located 29, place de la Bourse and 1, rue de la Bourse. Annual rent of 5,300 francs, payable quarterly (1864) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Record noting the death of Pierre Louis Amédée Queslin (1883) accessed through https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
Note: several early issues of the Almanach du Commerce de Paris can be freely acquired in their entireties from http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb32688404r/date and http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb32698036g/date