Balcony Front thumbnail 1
Balcony Front thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 2a

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
  • Height: 96cm
  • Width: 180cm
  • Depth: 73.5cm
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 createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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