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Direct scan of object
Faiseur de Cribles (sieve-maker)
Direct scan of object

Faiseur de Cribles (sieve-maker)

DateCa. 1730
Engraver Martin Engelbrecht
OriginEurope, Germany, Augsburg
MediumHand colored etching and line engraving
DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 × 8 1/4in. (30.5 × 21cm) Other (plate alone): 10 1/2 × 7 3/4in. (26.7 × 19.7cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1955-150,11A
DescriptionUpper right margin reads: "67"
Lower margin reads: "Faiseur de Cribles./ Ein Sibmacher./ 1. Baquet à farine. 1. Meel-kübel. 2. formes de cribles. 2. Schinen zu den Sib. 3. huchette. 3. ein Mul/der. 4. un broc. 4. ein Zitsche. 4. boëtes. 5. Shachtlen. 6. autre baquet à farine. 6. detto Meel-Kübel./ 7. Crile a Son. 7. ein Kleib-Sib. 8. grand crible. 8. ein groß Sib. 9. trellis. 9. ein Haar-Sib. 10. Saliére/ de Cuisine. 10. eine SalRanme. 11. reservoir. 11. ein Auffbeber. 12. un sousslet. 12. ein Blaßbalg. 13. un/ branchoir. 13. holserne Desser. 14. cuilliers à pot. 14. Rochlffel. 15. pêle à brioche. 14. Brezen Schauffel./ Cum Pr. Sac. Caes. 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 sieve or screenmaker. He carries the tools and products of that trade on his person as follows: 1. (on head) baquet a farine (bucket for flour); 2. (head and around shoulder) formes de cribles (forms for sieves); 3. (around chest) huchette (small bin-hopper); 4. (on right arm) un broc (large jug); 5. (hanging from waist) boetes (boxes); 6. (round waist) autre baquet a farine (another bucket for flour); 7. (hanging from waist) Crible a Son (sieve for bran); 8. (hanging from waist) grand crible (large sieve); 9. (hanging from waist) treillis (trellis work); 10. (hanging from waist) Saliere de Cuisine (salt box for cooking); 11. (hanging from waist) reservoir (tank scoop); 12. (around waist) un soufflet (bellows); 13. (at knees) un tranchoir (cutting boards); 14. (hanging from waist) cuilliers a pot (spoons for pots..measuring); 15. (in left hand) pele a brioche (baking board for bread).

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).