Obligation et Action au Porteur - Paris France 1898

This 1898 Action au Porteur (share certificate) marks one of the earliest and most iconic pieces in the Paris-France series. Unlike the obligations (bonds), which were debt instruments, this certificate represented ownership—a stake in the capital of the company, offering voting rights and dividends rather than fixed interest.

The document is bathed in a glowing buttery yellow, illuminating the central engraving of five female figures by Alphonse Mucha, captured in various allegorical poses that reflect labor, wisdom, and commerce. The circular framing and flowing forms are classic elements of Mucha’s Art Nouveau language, which sought to harmonize human beauty and organic design.

At this point in his career, Mucha had already become a household name in Paris, due largely to his posters for Sarah Bernhardt and his widespread influence on decorative arts. This share certificate, printed just as the Belle Époque was hitting its stride, illustrates the optimism and civic ambition of the period—when even documents of trade and capital were crafted with the sensibility of a mural or a manuscript.

Department stores - Economy - Mode

Chaix printing in Paris

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