Balcony Front
1700-1750 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This balcony front combines function with very elaborate decoration: wrought and cut iron strapwork and scrollwork, foliations and eagles. It was made in Italy, and possibly in Florence, in about 1700. The most exciting innovation in European 18th century ironwork was the riotous symmetry and asymmetry of the Rococo style, conceived in France in the 1720s. French, German and Italian blacksmiths in particular were inspired to produce in iron marvellous and paradoxically lightweight effects sometimes enhanced by colour and gilding. The lightness of the scrollwork and embossing in this example also show the emergence of the Rococo style.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Wrought iron, embossed |
Brief description | Ironwork balcony front, embossed wrought iron, Florence, 1700-50 |
Physical description | Ironwork balcony front, with wrought and cut iron strapwork and scrollwork, embossed, with foliations and eagles, Italy, possibly Florence, c1700 |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | BALCONY FRONT
Wrought iron
Italy; c. 1700
Said to have come from Florence. Though still symmetrical, the lightness of the scrollwork and embossing show the emergence of the Rococo style.
Museum No. 647-1888(07/1994) |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This balcony front combines function with very elaborate decoration: wrought and cut iron strapwork and scrollwork, foliations and eagles. It was made in Italy, and possibly in Florence, in about 1700. The most exciting innovation in European 18th century ironwork was the riotous symmetry and asymmetry of the Rococo style, conceived in France in the 1720s. French, German and Italian blacksmiths in particular were inspired to produce in iron marvellous and paradoxically lightweight effects sometimes enhanced by colour and gilding. The lightness of the scrollwork and embossing in this example also show the emergence of the Rococo style. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 647-1888 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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