Un Potier de Terre (clay potter)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

After work by I. I. Stelzer

MediumHand-colored etching and engraving

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 3/4in. (35.6 × 22.2cm) Other (plate to mark includes title): 12 1/4 × 7 1/2in. (31.1 × 19.1cm) Other (Plate): 10 1/4 × 7 1/4in. (10 1/4 × 7 1/4in.)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,2A

DescriptionUpper margin reads: "9"
Lower margin reads: "I.I. Stelzer fecit/ Un Potier de terre. Ein Haffner oder Töpffer./ 1. Une Losange de fourneau. 1. eine Ofen Kachel. 2. un couvercle. 2. ein Dekel. 3. l'argile./ 3. Leim. 4. le pinceau. 4. Der Benfel. 5. la regle. 5. das lineal. 6. une bouë. 6. eine baue(e?). 7. un pot/ à faire étuvées. 7. ein Drenfükiger.Topff. 8. pots à faire les potages. 8. alersen Töffe. 9. la/ Mesure 9. die Maack./ Cum Pr. S.C. Maj./ Mar. Engelbrecht excud. A.V."

Label 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 depicting a male potter or Potier or Hafner or Töpfer. He carries the tools of his trade on his person as follows: 1. (around neck) Une Losange de fournes (a mold for the furnace. 2. (right shoulder) un couvercle (a lid). 3. (left shoulder) l'argile (potter's clay). 4. (in clay) le pinceau (paint brush). 5. (in clay) la regle (ruler). 6. (in clay) une houe (hoe). 7. (on head) un pot a faire etuvees (a pot to stew in). 8. (around waist) pots a faire les potages (pots to cook soup in). 9. (around waist) la Mesure (a measure).

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).