Set of seven pruning tools
Decorated with engraved natural motifs, including fruit and fish, precious tools such as these were meant for noble patrons for whom gardening had gradually become a suitable pastime. The set, comprising clippers, a saw, four knives, and a combination hammer-rasp-file-and-auger, would have been used for trimming branches and obtaining bud grafts.
Artwork Details
- Title: Set of seven pruning tools
- Date: 1575–1600
- Culture: French, Moulins
- Medium: Steel, partly gilded; mother-of-pearl
- Dimensions: Overall (tool .1470): 3 5/16 × 5/8 × 12 in. (8.4 × 1.6 × 30.5 cm);
Overall (knife .1471): 1 × 6 5/8 × 7 in. (2.5 × 16.8 × 17.8 cm);
Overall (knife .1472): 1 1/4 × 1 × 12 in. (3.2 × 2.5 × 30.5 cm);
Overall (saw .1473): 3 1/8 × 13 3/4 × 1 1/8 in. (7.9 × 34.9 × 2.9 cm)
Overall (clippers .1474): 3 9/16 × 13 1/8 × 1 1/16 in. (9 × 33.3 × 2.7 cm);
Overall (knife .1475): 2 7/8 × 1 3/8 × 12 3/4 in. (7.3 × 3.5 × 32.4 cm);
Overall (knife .1476): 3 1/8 × 1 1/2 × 14 in. (7.9 × 3.8 × 35.6 cm) - Classification: Metalwork-Steel
- Credit Line: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
- Object Number: 64.101.1470–.1476
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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