Design
ca. 1755 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This design is for the back of a hand-mirror in the rococo style, a type of decoration that favours shell-like curves. The rococo style is evident in the lobed outer shape of the frame and the three reserves or spaces on its back This design is by an anonymous designer and was drawn in about 1755. It is from an album of designs that date from about 1735 to 1820, and include snuff boxes, scent holders, watches and watch cases, spoons, fans and fan mounts, small swords, and chatelaines (ornamental chains, pins, or clasps usually worn at a woman's waist, to which trinkets, keys, purses, or other articles are attached).
There is a close relationship between the contents of the album and known work by three Parisian goldsmiths, Jean Ducrollay (1710-1787), Pierre- François Drais (active 1761-1788), and Charles Ouizille (1744-1830) whose names appear on the first page of the album. This suggests that all the designs emanate from their workshops. Drais worked for the Court at Versailles as jeweller to both King Louis XV and Louis XVI. Ouizille worked in this capacity for Louis XVI. Most of the material dates from the period 1755-90.
There is a close relationship between the contents of the album and known work by three Parisian goldsmiths, Jean Ducrollay (1710-1787), Pierre- François Drais (active 1761-1788), and Charles Ouizille (1744-1830) whose names appear on the first page of the album. This suggests that all the designs emanate from their workshops. Drais worked for the Court at Versailles as jeweller to both King Louis XV and Louis XVI. Ouizille worked in this capacity for Louis XVI. Most of the material dates from the period 1755-90.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil |
| Brief description | Design for the back of a hand-mirror in the rococo style, ca. 1755, Paris |
| Physical description | Design for the back of a hand-mirror in the rococo style. . |
| Dimensions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This design is for the back of a hand-mirror in the rococo style, a type of decoration that favours shell-like curves. The rococo style is evident in the lobed outer shape of the frame and the three reserves or spaces on its back This design is by an anonymous designer and was drawn in about 1755. It is from an album of designs that date from about 1735 to 1820, and include snuff boxes, scent holders, watches and watch cases, spoons, fans and fan mounts, small swords, and chatelaines (ornamental chains, pins, or clasps usually worn at a woman's waist, to which trinkets, keys, purses, or other articles are attached). There is a close relationship between the contents of the album and known work by three Parisian goldsmiths, Jean Ducrollay (1710-1787), Pierre- François Drais (active 1761-1788), and Charles Ouizille (1744-1830) whose names appear on the first page of the album. This suggests that all the designs emanate from their workshops. Drais worked for the Court at Versailles as jeweller to both King Louis XV and Louis XVI. Ouizille worked in this capacity for Louis XVI. Most of the material dates from the period 1755-90. |
| Bibliographic reference | Heike Zech, 'Designs for Gold Boxes in the Album of the Workshop of Jean Ducrollay and his Successors', in Going for Gold: craftsmanship and collecting of gold boxes, ed. Tessa Murdoch and Heike Zech (Sussex academic press, 2014). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.897:29-1988 |
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| Record created | May 31, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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