L’altruisme est amour by Line Vautrin

“L’altruisme est amour” (Altruism is love) by Line Vautrin, gilt bronze box.
Gilt bronze box, the lid finely chiseled with a rebus.

The rebus can be deciphered as follows:
* The inscription “lal” at the top of the lid introduces the rebus with a phonetic evocation of “L’altruisme” (Altruism).
* A “sow” (truie in french) nursing her piglets embodies tenderness and natural selflessness, a symbol of altruism.
* Its curled tail forms the shape of an “S”.
* The word “me”, placed near one of the piglets, extends the phonetic reading toward the word “truisme” (truism).
* The base of the design features a hedge-like vegetation, playing on the French word “haie” (hedge), which phonetically evokes the verb “être” (“to be”).
* Finally, the word “AMOUR” (“LOVE”).
” lal truie S me haie AMOUR” – “L’altruisme est amour”.

Line Vautrin composes here a scene rich in symbols, an evocation of spontaneous, selfless giving, which embodies the purest form of love.