Feme d'un Jouaillier (jeweler)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

MediumHand colored etching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 3/4 × 8in. (32.4 × 20.3cm) Other (plate alone): 10 1/2 × 35 1/2in. (26.7 × 90.2cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,14B

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "74"
Lower margin reads: "Feme d'un Joüailier./ Eine Jubelierin./ 1. Parure de Perles et de Diamants. 1. ein Schmukh von Berlen u: Edelgstein. 2. chainettes d'or. 2. gol/ dene keffen. 3. Croix d'un ordre. 3. ein Ardens Creüz. 4. pommaeaux. 4. ein Klepperse. 5. Cornet à boire de/ Nacre de perle. 5. ein Horn von Berlemiffer daraus zu frincken. 6. une Théere d'Argent. 6. ein Silberne/ The Kane. 7. une encensoire dorée. 7. ein bier vergu?dses Kaückfaß. 8. un plat basin. 8. ein Lavoir. 9. 10./ Assiétes d'or et d'Argent 9. 10. Silverne ?md Goldene Teller. 11.12. plats de meme. 11.12. detto Schüß/ len. 13. une lampe. 13. eine Lampe. 14. Couteaux cuilières fourchettes. 14. Meßer lossel u: Bablen./ 15/ chandelier d'argent. 15. ein Silberner leü? .15. un goblet de parade doré 16. ein Bier vergüldter/ Becher. 17. une encensoire. 17. ein?/ 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 jeweler. She carries products of the trade on her person as follows: 1. (on head) Parure de perles, et de Diamants (head-piece of pearls and diamonds); 2. (on shoulders) chainettes d'or (chains of gold); 3.(round) neck) Croix d'un order (cross of an order); 4. (round waist) pommeaux (pomades); 5. (hanging from waist) Cornet a boire de Nacre de perle (horn of mother of pearl); 6. (hanging from waist) une theere d'argent (teapot of silver); 7. (hanging from waist (une encensoire doree (incense burner of gold); 8. (in right hand) un plat bassin (flat basin); 9. & 10. (hanging from waist) Assietes d'or et d'Argent (plates of gold and silver); 11 & 12. (hanging from waist) plats de meme (more dishes of same); 13. (hanging from waist) une lampe (a lamp); 14. (hanging from waist) Couteaux, cuilieres, fourchettes (knives, forks, and spoons); 15. (hanging from waist) chandelier d'argent (candlestick of silver); 16.(hanging from waist) un goblet de parade dore (goblets of gold for show); 17. (hanging from waist) une encensoire (incense burner).

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).