Design, probably for the back plate of a sconce, about 1710. Anonymous, German

Design, probably for the back plate of a sconce, of shell motifs and acanthus leaves. Right half of the drawing is produced by counterproof

This is one of a series of metalwork drawings [E.948-1969-1991], all sharing the same provenance and may all come from the same workshop, and seem to date to about 1710. One further drawing from this group of 23 is in a private collection in Paris. The majority of the drawings are rendered in red chalk, with the left half usually obtained by counterproof. Other drawings are in pen and brown ink. The annotations in German indicate the weight of the object after it was made, which betrays a craft knowledge and suggests that the drawings come from the workshop of a silversmith. The decorative elements are typical of the early 18th century, deriving from the work of Jean Bérain and German silversmiths.

E.1953-1991