Marotte Collection

Woman in costume as a Marotte (jester's stick) 1880s (lithograph)
5893515 Woman in costume as a Marotte (jester's stick) 1880s (lithograph); (add.info.: Woman in costume as a Marotte (jester's stick) for a masquerade ball

The fool or jester, le Fou, 15th century. In hat with bells, short jacket with long sleeves, two-colour hose
5912943 The fool or jester, le Fou, 15th century. In hat with bells, short jacket with long sleeves, two-colour hose, holding a marotte

Woman in costume as a Marotte (jesters stick) for a masquerade ball. Handcoloured lithograph by Chatiniere published by Martinet, Paris, 1880s

Alexina Desclozas as Dona Juana in La Camargo, 1879
Alexina Desclozas as Dona Juana in La Camargo performed at the Theatre de la Renaissance, 1879. Handcoloured lithograph by Chatiniere published by Martinet, Paris, 1879

Knight, fool and girl, 16th century Germany
Knight (reiter) with wheel-lock pistol and harem pants A, jester with bladder and marotte (bauble), B, and girl in long petticoat and apron from Strasbourg C

La folie, 1777. Creator: Jean Francois Janinet
La folie, 1777

Aymon Premier, 1726. Creators: Caylus, Anne-Claude-Philippe de, Francois Joullain
Aymon Premier, 1726

Plate 46 Habit de Folie woman ballet pose wearing
Artokoloro

Love as Folly, c. 1773-76 (oil on canvas)
XOS1765872 Love as Folly, c.1773-76 (oil on canvas) by Fragonard, Jean-Honore (1732-1806); 55.9x46.4 cm; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA; (add.info.: Cupid as a Jester)

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Marotte: A Timeless Emblem of Folly and Whimsy Throughout history, the Marotte, or jester's stick, has been a symbol of folly, wit, and entertainment. From the woman in 19th-century Spanish opera, Dona Juana in La Camargo, wielding a Marotte, to the knight, fool, and girl in 16th-century Germany, this whimsical prop has captivated audiences for centuries. Jean Francois Janinet's La folie, a painting from 1777, depicts a woman in a Marotte costume, embodying the madness and unpredictability of life. Similarly, the character Aymon Premier, from the 1726 play by Caylus and Joullain, dons a Marotte costume to represent the absurdities of love. Actresses in various productions have also embraced the Marotte as a symbol of madness, as seen in this 19th-century photograph of a woman in costume. The Marotte even made an appearance in a set of cards from the late 1800s, where it was used to represent the Allies as playful and unpredictable butterflies. In art, the Marotte has been immortalized in numerous paintings, such as Love as Folly from the late 1700s. These works of art showcase the enduring appeal of the Marotte as a representation of the human condition - a reminder that even in the midst of chaos and folly, there is always room for whimsy and delight.