Boîtes à Sable are another Vestige from the Past
When I discovered that there were so few boîtes à sable (boxes with sand) remaining in Paris, I had to find them……. Or at least one of them! These boîtes à sable are remnants of Paris’ past, dating from the nineteenth century. Beautiful cast iron boxes, boîtes, were used at one time to hold the sand, sable, which was spread on the walks and streets when there was snow or ice.
Boîte à sable at 39 rue Trudaine
Origins
At the beginning of the 1880s, the use of salt began to replace the use of sand. Salt worked better at melting the snow and ice and did not have the disadvantages of the sand. If you’ve ever spread sand on your own sidewalks during the winter you know what a muddy mess it makes as the snow/ice melts!
39 rue Trudaine
Art Nouveau Style
To me, it is bittersweet when progress replaces something beautiful from the past. These boxes for sand, boîtes à sable , were the ultimate utility and yet not at all plain! Look at the beautiful vines. Although no one seems to know the exact date of construction, the vines definitely reflect the Art Nouveau style. Here you see a laurel branch, and oak branch and the crest of the city of Paris.
Art Nouveau style decorations
The lid or top lifts on a hinge so that the box could be filled with sand.
Hinged lid, boîte à sable , rue Trudaine
These are photos are of the boîte à sable found at 39 avenue Trudaine, not far from Gare du Nord. Others can be found at 48 ave Gabriel, Place Georges au Guillaumin, 22 avenue de Saxe, and Place Reine Astrid.
Denis Prouvost wrote the following article for the now defunct Paris-Villages which provides additional details.
Surviving Boîtes à Sable
These five boxes have survived because they have been converted to serve as air shafts for today’s road workers, providing a cloakroom, kitchenette and toilet. You can see the stairwell entrance behind and to the left of this boîtes à sable at Place Guillaumin.
Boîtes à sable at Place Guillaumin with service entrance at back left.
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