Orphevre (goldsmith & silversmith)

Dateca. 1720

Artist/Maker Martin Engelbrecht

MediumHand colored black and white line engraving on laid paper

Dimensions): 14" X 8 1/2"; plate to marks including title: 11 1/2" X 7 1/2"; picture alone: 10" X 7"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,26A

DescriptionThe Orphevre is the gold and silversmith. He carries the tools and products of his trade on his person as follows: 1. (on head) Un pot d'Argent ( a silver pot); 2. (on head) un porte cuilliere (spoon carrier); 3. (on head) laitiere (cream pitcher); 4. (on head) une Sous coupe (tray of wood); 5. (in hands) aiguiere (water pitcher); 6. (in hands) calice (chalise); 7. (in hands) plat bassin (flat basin); 8. (on shoulder) petit pot (small pot); 9. (on shoulder) gobelet (goblet); 10. (on chest) lustre (lustre); 11. (hanging from arm) garde d'Epee (sword guard); 12. (hanging from arm)cuilliere (spoons); 13. (hanging from arm) poignee de couteau de chasse et boete (handle of hunting knife and bait); 14. (at waist) marteau (hammer); 15. (at waist) ciseau d'argent (scissors of silver); 16. (at waist) marteau de bois (hammer of wood); 17. (at waist) Etau (vice); 18. (at waist) boete a vif argent (box of quick silver); 19. 9at waist) Etui (case); 20. (at waist) lustroire (luster wear); 21.(at waist) souflet (bellows); 22. (at waist) fer blanc a lustrer (white iron for luster); 23. (at waist) enclume (anvil); 24. (at waist behind) compas tenailles &c. (compass, pliers, etc.).

Very bottom of lower margin reads, Cum Priv. Maj. Plate #115Label TextMartin Engelbrecht’s mid-18th century publication on trades included both a male and female illustration of each trade or profession in creative ways. Though they represent the tools that tradesmen used and the products they produced, they were meant to entertain elite audiences rather than inform about the labor involved in these trades or professions.This print represents an idealized version of

This print is from a series of 189 engravings consisting prints featuring depictions of tradesmen in the format known as composite figures, which are human figures made up of objects. Sometimes various accoutrements or tools are cleverly incorporated into recognizable garments or even replace body parts. Each plate represents different trades by trades men and women dressed with associated tools and products. They do not represent actual tradespeople nor are they meant to suggest that women participated in these trades, though in some cases they may have.They were designed by Johann Jacob Stelzner (1706-1780), C.F. Horstman and M. Rosler. They were etched by Martin Engelbrecht ( 1684–1756). The series was published in a compilation known as, From Martin Engelbrecht, "L' Assemblage nouveau des manouvries habilles or Neu-eröffnete Sammlung der mit ihren eigenen Arbeiten und Werkzeugen eingekleideten Künstlern, Handwerkern und Professionen," (Augsburg, Germany, ca. 1730).ProvenanceBefore 1955, the Old Print Shop (New York, NY); 1955-present, purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).