copper printing plate
Printing Plate
1747 (made)
1747 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This printing plate shows designs for eight shoe or knee buckles, a bodice ornament, and the frame for a portrait miniature, each decorated with diamonds. Diamond jewellery was an established feature of mid-eighteenth-century court life and the owning and displaying of fine jewels was considered an essential requirement for aristocratic life. The names of the designer, Nicolas Mensma, and the engraver, C.F. Frihsch, can be seen in reverse along the bottom of the plate. They are engraved back to front so that they would come out the right way when the plate was inked and printed.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | copper printing plate (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving on copper |
| Brief description | Copper printing plate with jewellery designs, by Nicolaus Mensma, 1747 |
| Physical description | Copper plate with engraved jewellery designs. On the reverse of the plate is an oil painting of a reclining nude. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Nicolaus Mensma Invenit.
C.F. Frihsch Sculp. (Engraved on the bottom of the plate) |
| Credit line | Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund |
| Object history | Prints were made from the copper plate by the Royal College of Art in 2008. The prints are with Metalwork. |
| Production | Printing plate for one of a set of six prints of the title Kunst van Diamanz et behelzende verscheyde Nieuwe uytgeronde Werken, etc. Door Nicolaus Mensma Ao 1747 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This printing plate shows designs for eight shoe or knee buckles, a bodice ornament, and the frame for a portrait miniature, each decorated with diamonds. Diamond jewellery was an established feature of mid-eighteenth-century court life and the owning and displaying of fine jewels was considered an essential requirement for aristocratic life. The names of the designer, Nicolas Mensma, and the engraver, C.F. Frihsch, can be seen in reverse along the bottom of the plate. They are engraved back to front so that they would come out the right way when the plate was inked and printed. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.3552-2004 |
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| Record created | March 31, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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