Un Cordier (rope-maker)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

MediumHand colored etching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to mark including title): 12 × 7 3/4in. (30.5 × 19.7cm) Other (plate alone): 10 1/2 × 7 1/2in. (26.7 × 19.1cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,12A

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "69"
Lower margin reads: "Un Cordier. / Ein Seiler. / 1. Cordage à la lescive. 1. ein aufgemundner Waschstrickh. 2. deveidor 2. das Windholtz./ 3 la maillet. 3. der hamer. 4. toute sorte de sicelles. 4. allerlen nah brief u bind faden. 5 tablier./ aux etoupes. 5. die Spinnschurze. 6. le chanure et etoupes. 6. der hanff und Werckh. 7. Corde. 7./ Strickhe. 8. Chanvre. 8. hanff:g grose corde. 9. dickhe Seil./ 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 rope-maker (un cordonnier). He carries the tools and products of his trade on his person as follows: 1. (on head) Cordage a secher la lescive (clothesline); 2. (in left hand) deveidor (winder); 3. (in right hand) la maillet (hammer); 4. (under left arm) toute sorte de ficelles (different sorts of twine); 5. (hanging from waist) tablier aux etoupes (apron for oakum); 6. (in apron) le chanure et etoupes (hemp and oakum); 7. (over left arm); corde (rope); 8. (hair) Chanure (hemp); 9. (over back and waist) grosse corde (heavy cord).

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).