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Direct scan of object
Chaudronniere (female coppersmith)
Direct scan of object

Chaudronniere (female coppersmith)

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 number1955-150,15B
DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "76"
Lower margin reads: "Chaudronniére./ Ein Kupfferschmidin./ 1. Caffetiére. 1. Eine Caffe kane. 2. crible de cuivre. 2. ein kupffern Sieb. 3. chaudron à reservoir./ 3. ein (?)isch keßel. 4. deux pots à l'eau. 4. Zwen Waßer geschirr. 5. chaudron pour rafraichir. 5. ein kühl./ keßel. 6. une passoire. 6. ein Durchschlag. 7. une poële de cuivre. 7. eine kupfferne Pfane. 8. une autre d'airain/ 8. d.o ovn Meßing. 9. pot à l'eau. 9. ein Waßer kane. 10. un coloir. 10. eine Sterße. 11. un contoir. 11. ein Zahl./ breff(?) Zum Gelt Zehsen. 12. un petit bassin. 12. ein Klein bekhen. 13. chaudiére à teindre. 13 farb keßel./ Cum Priv. Maj./ M. 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 female coppersmith (pot maker). She carries the products of this trade on her person as follows: 1. (on head) Caffetiere (coffee pot); 2. (in hands) crible de cuivre (large sieve for straining); 3. (on right arm) chaudron a reservoir (pot for washing); 4. (hanging from waist) deux pots a l'eau (pots for water); 5. (hanging from waist) chauldron pour rafraichir (basib for cooling things); 6. (hanging from waist) une passoire (a small sieve); 7. (hanging from waist) une poele de cuivre (frying pan of copper); 8. (hanging from waist) une autre d'airain (another brass pan); 9. (hanging from waist) pot a l'eau (water jug); 10. (hanging from waist) un couloir (skimmer); 11. (hanging from waist) un contoir (a mold); 12. (hanging from waist) un petit bassin (a small basin); 13. (on ground) chaudiere a teindre (a dye pot).

TThis 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).