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Goldsmith's ornament design

Print
1617 (Printed)
Artist/Maker
Hulsen, Esaias (Van) (artist)
Esaias Hulsen (Printmaker)
Place of origin
Stuttgart (city) (made)
Stuttgart (Printed)

This engraving by Esaias van Hulsen is from a set of five designs for goldsmith’s ornament. It was published, in Stuttgart, in 1617. The web of scrolls is inspired by the Moorish style and it shows silhouettes of animals, flowers and satyrs. Ornament prints like these were used by artisans to decorate objects; this print was intended as an example for a goldsmith or a silversmith.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Enamels
Designs
Ornament Prints
Object type
Print
TitleGoldsmith's ornament design (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving with etching
Paper
Engraving
Etching
Brief description
Print by Esaias van Hulsen, plate from a suite of 6 designs for goldsmith's ornament, Dutch, 1617
Physical description
A complex asymmetrical silhouette style design depicting an array of chimerical and actual animals, birds, flowers and satyrs set within a pattern of schweifwerk.
Dimensions
  • Cut to height: 10.6cm
  • Cut to width: 10.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
Signed along the lower portion of the plate: 'E - V - H - F'
Object history
The fantastic web of scrolls is inspired by the Moresque.
Subjects depicted
Scrolls
Moresque
Enamelling
Animals
Birds
Mermaid
Summary
This engraving by Esaias van Hulsen is from a set of five designs for goldsmith’s ornament. It was published, in Stuttgart, in 1617. The web of scrolls is inspired by the Moorish style and it shows silhouettes of animals, flowers and satyrs. Ornament prints like these were used by artisans to decorate objects; this print was intended as an example for a goldsmith or a silversmith.
Bibliographic references
  • Guilmard, D., Les Maîtres Ornemanistes, Paris, 1880-1881, p.391, 9 (3).
  • (Berlin II) Berlin Staatlich Museen., Katalog der Ornamentstich-Sammlung der Staatlichen Kunstbibliothek Berlin, Berlin and Leipzig, 1936-39, 656.
  • Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1928. London: HMSO, 1929
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.3352-1928

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Record createdApril 22, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O111437/goldsmiths-ornament-design-print-hulsen-esaias-van/
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