Un Menuiser (carpenter)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

After work by I. I. Stelzer

MediumHand-colored etching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other: 12 1/4 × 7 1/2in. (31.1 × 19.1cm) Other: 10 1/4 × 7 1/4in. (26 × 18.4cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,4A

DescriptionUpepr right corner reads: "19"
Lower margin reads: "Ioh. Iac. Stelzer fec./ Un Meniusier./ Ein Schreiner./ 1. la poêle à colle./ 2. die Leimpfane. 2. foret à pierre. 5. ein Drehbohrer. 6. un foret. 6. ein Zohrer./ 7.un plomb, ou aiguillette. 7. en Sencshel(?) 8. un equerre. 8. ein Wineselmasss. 0. une plane. 9. ein Schneid-/ Messer. 10. une coignee. 10 ein Zeil. 11. Une varlope. 11. ein Schlichthobel. 12. une rape. 12 ein Kasvel. 13. un Compas. 13. Ein ZIrkel. 14. un ciseau a bois. 14. ein Staunessen. 15. des tenailles. 15. ein Zan -ge. 15. un etabli. 15. Ein Yobel oder Fueghanek?. 17. un etabli de charpente. 17 ein dergleichen genandt. 18. un tablette. 19. ein Tablet. 19. ais de la table. 19. Ein Tilehblat?./ Cum Pr. Maj./ Mart. Engelbrecht exc. 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 represents an idealized version of a carpenter. He stands with the tools and accoutrements associated with the trade of carpentry. (Titles are given in both French and old German). 1. (on his head) la poele a colle (a pot for glue). 2. (right arm) une Scie (saw). 3. (right shoulder) le maillet (a mallet). 4. (right shoulder) une Scie percante (piercing saw). 5. (left shoulder) un foret a pierre (a drill for stone). 6. (left shoulder) un foret (a drill). 7. (left waist) un plomb, ou aiguillete (a plumb line or plumb needle). 8. (left waist) un equerre (a square); 9. (left waist) un plane (a plane). 10. (left waist) une coignee (hachet). 11. (front left) une varlope (jointing-plane); 12. (waist center) une rape (grater or rasp). 13. (waist center) un compas (compass). 14. (waist center) un ciseau a bois (chisel for wood). 15. (waist right) des tenailles (pliers); 16. (waist left) un etabli (joiner's bench). 17. (waist left) un etabli de charpente (capenter's bench). 18. (breast plate) une tablette (shelf); 19 (held in hands, right and left) ais de la table (table leaves).

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).