Un Tonnelier (cooper)

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 (plate to marks including title): 12 1/2 × 7 3/4in. (31.8 × 19.7cm) Other (plate): 10 1/4 × 7 1/4in. (26 × 18.4cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,6A

DescriptionUpper right corner: "23"
Lower morgin reads: "Un Tonnelier./ Ein ?offger./ 1. un broc. 1. Bilsche(?). 2. un maillet. 2. ein Schlegel. 3. cercles. 3 ? .4. osiéres. 4. bir / ekhene Rulhen. 5. Toupie. 5. der Triebel. 6. cuvier. 6. ein kübel .7. cuvette à rincer. 7. ein/ Wälchgelte .8. baquet à la main .8. en Hand Kübel .9. petits tonneaux .9. Fassel. 10. un / compas. 10. ein zirckul. 11. la gaine. 11. Daß Bidmeßer .12. devantier. 12. Daß Schurzsell. / 13. traitoire. 13. Reiffzange. 14. assermoire. 14. Reifhaekhe./ I.I. Stelzer fecit./ Cum Priv. Maj. 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 cooper. He carries the products and tools of his tradeof coopering on his person as follows: 1. (on head) un broc (large jug); 2. (round his neck) un maillet (a hammer); 3. (from shoulder around chest) cercles ( barrel hoops); 4. (over right shoulder) osieres (wicker willows); 5. (round neck) Toupie (spinning top); 6. (round chest) cuvier (wash tub); 7. (at waist) cuvette a rincer (shallow basin in which to rinse); 8. (at waist) baquet a la main (basin in which to wash hands); 9. (round legs) petits tonneaux (small tubs); 10. (in right hand) un compas (compass); 11. (at waist) la gaine (sheath); 12. (hanging from waist) Devantier (apron); 13. (left hand) traitoire (shafts); 14. (right hand) affermoire (stave tightener).

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).