Adrien Dubois de Laval (active Paris, 1880 - 1923, Paris)
Flower and Fruit Picker [Cueilleuse Dubois], about 1910
Maple and bamboo, 108.9 cm (42 7/8 in.)
Worthington Street Lobby
Commentary
Adrien Dubois was trained as a cutler, a person who makes, sells and repairs knives, but he was also an inventor. His most famous invention was the “Dubois picker,” this stick-like pair of scissors operated by a trigger. Enabling the user to snip blossoms or fruit at a distance of up to 3 meters, it was particularly useful for avoiding thorns.
Isabella, an avid gardener, purchased three Dubois pickers and mounted them in the cane rack in the Worthington Street Lobby. They invite us to imagine Gardner heading out the door to gather roses from her garden.