[LE MENARD, imprimeur] Menu en soie tissée. – Banquet offert à monsieur le Président de la République par le Conseil Municipal de Saint-Étienne.

Menu lithographed by Le Menard on woven silk using the process invented by Joseph-Marie Jacquard.

The upper woven section shows two winged cherubs beside a stream, a small grove and doves. The text printed in sepia is accompanied by the coat of arms of the municipality of Saint-Étienne.

The banquet was offered to the President of the Republic (Félix Faure) by the Municipal Council of Saint-Étienne on 29 May 1898, the year of the famous open letter “J’Accuse” that Zola addressed to him on 13 January concerning the Dreyfus affair.

Félix Faure (1841-1898) was President of the French Republic from 17 January 1895 until his death on 16 February 1899. His death was widely reported in the media at the time. Félix Faure died in the arms of his mistress Marguerite Steinheil at the Élysée Palace following a stroke.

The banquet, provided by the Dupré restaurant, was very elaborate and consisted of no fewer than 12 courses: Petites Bouchées Parisiennes / Turbot Sauce Riche – Cuissots de Rennes Grande Veneur – Quenelles truffées Financière – Jambon d’York Maillot / Spums au Kirsch / Morilles Chantilly / Chapons truffés à la broche – Mousses de Foie gras à la Gelée / Langoustes Tartare / Parfaits pralinés / Dessert. The meal was accompanied by fine wines (without giving further details): Haut-Sauterne, Saint-Émillion, Pomard, and Louis Roederer.

The banquet itself was held in the Grand Hall of the Manufacture française d’armes et de cycles in Saint-Étienne. Founded in 1892 by Étienne Mimard and Pierre Blanchon, the factory was renamed Manufrance in 1947.

A beautiful document of great luxury from the Third Republic (1870-1940).