Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case MURRAY, Shelf 1, Box B

Ten designs for pendants

Print
mid 16th century, before 1573
Artist/Maker
Hans Collaert (designer)
Hans Collaert (engraver)
Hans Liefrinck (publisher)
Place of origin
Antwerp

In the sixteenth century, goldsmiths and engravers started to favour architectural designs for jewellery. Hans Collaert, one of the leading ornament engravers in Antwerp in the mid sixteenth century, participated in this move towards architectural pendant designs, as demonstrated in this set of ten designs. The images that do not include architectural elements are probably meant to serve as the verso for similar pendants. Arabesque designs that decorate these images could have been made with enamel paint or through open metalwork.


Object details

Category
Ornament Prints
Object type
Print
TitleTen designs for pendants (series title)
Materials and techniques
engraving
Brief description
Hans Collaert (after); one print from a suite of ten including the title plate showing designs for jewellery with architectural elements and vegetal-arabesques; Murray Press, Tray 1b.
Physical description
title page for a series of prints with designs for jewellery; shows information about the publisher, topped with two birds and on eithr side a heart shaped ornament
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.6cm (cut to)
  • Width: 8.4cm
corners trimmed
Marks and inscriptions
  • "ANTWERPIAE APUD | IOANNEM LIEFRINCK| CUM PRIVILEGIO" (within the pendant design)
    Translation
    "From the Antwerp publishing house of Hans Liefrinck with privilege"
  • "Hans Collaert" (lower left corner)
Object history
Pendants with architectural decoration can still be seen in various collections, including the British Museum. WB149, for example, though it is a German piece, shares an interest with architectural elements exhibited in the Collaert designs.
Summary
In the sixteenth century, goldsmiths and engravers started to favour architectural designs for jewellery. Hans Collaert, one of the leading ornament engravers in Antwerp in the mid sixteenth century, participated in this move towards architectural pendant designs, as demonstrated in this set of ten designs. The images that do not include architectural elements are probably meant to serve as the verso for similar pendants. Arabesque designs that decorate these images could have been made with enamel paint or through open metalwork.
Bibliographic references
  • 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.
  • Tait, Hugh, Catalogue of the Waddesdon Bequest in the British Museum; I The Jewels, London, BMP, 1986. Accessed via The British Museum Website, www.britishmuseum.org, 10/02/2012.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1192-1923

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O771154/ten-designs-for-pendants-print-hans-collaert/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest