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A second set of most skilled designs for pendants and earrings

Print
1582
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

After Hans Collaert’s death in October of 1580, his sons and his publisher, Philips Galle, produced two more sets of engravings after his designs for jewellery. This is the second one, published in 1582, and is comprised of ten prints including the title page. Though it represents the last of Hans’ publications, it is also the first dated plates engraved by his son Adriaen, who would continue to an illustrious engraving and publishing career of his own. Each image shows a pendant in the shape of a sea creature and topped with humans, dieties or merpeople. The pendants dangle from delicate ribbon work and are each hung with three pearls. It is possible that the bodies of the sea creatures themselveves were made out of baroque pearls. Baroque pearls were famous for their irregular shapes and were prized in the early modern world as the basis for elaborate jewellery designs such as the ones seen in the Collaert series.


Object details

Object type
TitleA second set of most skilled designs for pendants and earrings (series title)
Materials and techniques
engraving
Brief description
Hans Collaert (after): One print from a suite of ten including the title plate showing jewellery in the shape of sea creatures
Physical description
design for a pendant in the shape of a sphinx-like sea creature carrying on its back a man with an oar
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.4cm (cut to )
  • Width: 10cm (cut to)
Subjects depicted
Summary
After Hans Collaert’s death in October of 1580, his sons and his publisher, Philips Galle, produced two more sets of engravings after his designs for jewellery. This is the second one, published in 1582, and is comprised of ten prints including the title page. Though it represents the last of Hans’ publications, it is also the first dated plates engraved by his son Adriaen, who would continue to an illustrious engraving and publishing career of his own. Each image shows a pendant in the shape of a sea creature and topped with humans, dieties or merpeople. The pendants dangle from delicate ribbon work and are each hung with three pearls. It is possible that the bodies of the sea creatures themselveves were made out of baroque pearls. Baroque pearls were famous for their irregular shapes and were prized in the early modern world as the basis for elaborate jewellery designs such as the ones seen in the Collaert series.
Bibliographic reference
Hollstein, F.W.H., Ann Diels, Marjolein Leesberg, Arnout Balis, and Collaert. The new Hollstein Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700 The Collaert Dynasty / comp. by Ann Diels and Marjolein Leesberg; ed. by Marjolein Leesberg and Arnout Balis. The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, 1450-1700. Ouderkerk aan den IJssel: Sound & Vision Publishers, 2005.
Collection
Accession number
17513

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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