Skip to main content
Advanced Search
DOS2005-PC-158
Un Cofretier (tinsmith)
DOS2005-PC-158

Un Cofretier (tinsmith)

DateCa. 1730
Engraver Martin Engelbrecht
OriginEurope, Germany, Augsburg
MediumHand colored etching and line engraving
DimensionsOverall: 12 × 8 1/2in. (30.5 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 1/2 × 7 3/4in. (31.8 × 19.7cm) Other (plate alone): 10 1/2 × 7 1/4in. (26.7 × 18.4cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1955-150,7A
DescriptionUpper right corner: "41"
Lower margin reads: "Un Cofreitier. / Ein Flaschner./ 1. un taiau de fumée. 1. ein Rauchrohr. 2. 2 flacons à buile. 2.2. Ohl Ranel. 3. une lampe sur son bpied. 3. eine lampe/ aufeinem Bestell. 4. diverses lanternes. 4. unferschide de lanterne. 5. pied pour lampe. 5. ein fuß zur lampe. 6. un comptoir 6. ein/ Zahlbrett. 7. un chandelier de fer blanc. 7. ein blechner leucter. 8. une rappe à tabac. 8. Zum taback reiben. 9. une petite. / tampe. 9. eine Kleine lampe. / 10. une autre pour barbier. 10 ein d? vor die Barbier. 11. autre maniére de lampe. 11 eine an/ der lampe. 12. une plague. ein Wandleuchter. 13. une lampe à ? bras. 13. ein lampe mit ? arme. 14. une Caffetiére. 14./ eine Caffe Kane. 15. grande et petit entonoir. 15. ein großer u: kleiner Trichter. 16 Boëtte aux épices 16. eine ?. 17, passoire. 17. ein storze. 18. une Théere. 18. ein The Kanne. 19. une prappe. 19. ein Ribeisen. 20. un chandellier de laiton. 20./ ein Meßinger leuchter. 21. petit couvercle. 21 ein kleiner deckel./ Cum Priv. Maj/ Mart. 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 represents an idealized version of a tinsmith. He carries items that were made by tinsmiths: 1. (on head) un tuiau de fumee (smoke funnel; 2.(on ears) flacons a huile (flasks for oil); 3. (left hand) une lampe sur son pied (standing lamp); 4. (right shoulder) diverses lanternes (differnent lanterns); 5. (left shoulder) pied pour lampe (stand for lamp); 6. (left shoulder) un comptoir (counter); 7.(left shoulder) un chandelier de fer blanc (candlestick on white iron); 8. (left arm) une rappe a tabac (tobacco grater); 9. (left arm) une petite lampe (a small lamp); 10. (left arm) une autre pour barbier (another for the barber); 11. (left arm) autre maniere de lampe (another kind of lamp); 12.(front of chest) une plaque (candle plaque); 13. (right hand) une lampe a 3 bras (lamp with 3 arms); 14. (waist) une caffetiere ( coffee pot); 15. (waist) grand et petit entonoir (large and small funnels); 16. (waist) boette aux epices (box for spices); 17. (waist) passoire (strainer); 18. (waist) une Theere (tea pot); 19. (waist) une rappe (grater); 20. (waist) un chandellier de laiton ( metal lantern); 21. (waist) petit couvercle (little lid).

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).