Vintage Pedagogical Boards

In 1866, Emile Deyrolle takes over the ownership of the company Deyrolle founded by his grandfather. Both were natural sciences aficionados. The grandson developed various items used as teaching material ; anatomical models, biological pieces, and the most important of all : the publishing of coloured wall board called “Deyrolle school museum”.

Oriented towards different levels from primary to secondary classes and even universities, these boards had the vocation to teach the famous French “leçon de choses” to the young ones (these lessons can be compared to a simplified natural science class). They were also used to teach botany, zoology, entomology, geography, human anatomy and also civics. By 1870, hundreds of boards on many different topics were published and the State became Deyrolle’s most important client by providing every school with the boards. The catalogues’ sales points were quite clear : “Education by the eyes is the less tiresome for the mind. However, this education can only bear its fruits if the described material is perfectly accurate”.

Since April the first 1888, Deyrolle can be found at the number 46 of the street du Bac and continues its publisher activities. It still offers every year new didactic boards. Deyrolle now has some boards translated in Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. The entire collection of boards is depicted in a book called : “L’Ecole de la Nature, planches Deyrolle” by Yves Paccalet ( 10/08 Edition Hoebeke) Nowadays, a large part of this heritage still exist for the joy of Nature lovers as well as grown up pupils who happily rediscover their childhood boards and use them for their high ornamental value. The reprinting of some chosen boards is very welcomed and this reprinting program is only in its early stages.