Un Fourbisseur (sword cutter)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

After work by P.A. Degmeir

MediumHand colored black and white line engraving on laid paper

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 1/4 × 7 3/4in. (31.1 × 19.7cm) Other (plate alone): 10 1/4 × 7 1/4in. (26 × 18.4cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,8A

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "51"
Lower margin reads: "Un Fourbisseur/ Ein Schwerdfeger./ 1. 2 petits Sabres. 1. 2 klein Sabel. 2. poignées. 2. Griffe. 3. Bouts de fourreaux. 3. Ohrband. / 4. platine. 4. Stich-Blat. 5. Garde d'epées.5. Degen-Creuz./ 6. une Epée. 6. ein Degen/ 7. Couteau de Chasse. 7. Dirschfänger. 8. limes. 8. feile. 9. marteau. 9. Dammer. 10. Cise/ aux. 10. Schere. 11. Poëlon. 11. Pfanne. 12. bionnette. 12. Bajonett./ P.A. Degmeir fecit/ 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 sword cutler. He carries the tools and products of that trade on his person as follows: 1. (on head) 2 petits sabres (2 small sabers); 2. (on shoulder) poigness (sword hilts); 3. (right shoulder) Bouts de fourreaux (parts of sheaths); 4. (chest) platine (lock for fire arms); 5. (at waist) garde d'epees (swords for protection); 6. (at waist) une epee (sword); 7. (at waist) Couteau de Chasse (knife for hunting); 8. (at waist) limes (sharpeners); 9. (at waist) marteau (hammer); 10. (at waist) Ciseaux (scissors); 11. (at waist) Poelon (melting pan); 12. (at waist) baionnette (bayonets).

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).