Six designs for brooches with cartouches
Six drawings in graphite of designs for brooches, in the style of the French School of the 19th century, designed for the French jewelry company Mellerio-Borgnis. Each drawing was created on a separate sheet of semi-transparent paper, all adhered to the same page of the album. All six brooches consist of cartouches of different sorts. The first one contains two oval frames, and is surrounded by scrolling branches, with two semi-abstract lion motifs on the sides and a crown with three round pearls above. The second one consists of two rectangular frames standing over scrolling acanthus leaves that hold a hanging ribbon, possibly to be personalized for the customer; two felines stand to the sides of the frame, and a crown with several pearls is above them. The third one consists of a single frame over scrolling motifs, with two hounds (?) to the sides, and a crown with several pearls above. The fourth consists of two oval frames over scrolling leaves and motifs, with two angels to the sides and a small crown above. The fifth design consists of two oval frames inside a heart-shaped frame of scrolling motifs with a garland of small rosettes and stylized leaves, and flanked above by a crown with a hanging ribbon, possibly to be personalized for the customer. The final design consists of two oval frames, surrounded by interlacing motifs and stylized leaves, and with a dragon (?) and a unicorn to the sides, flanked above by a small crown. The physical jewels from these designs would have likely been manufactured using gold or silver, and probably using brilliants, diamonds, or other (semi-) precious stones to add color and shine to the designs.
Artwork Details
- Title: Six designs for brooches with cartouches
- Artist: F. Mellerio Borgnis
- Date: ca. 1830–70
- Medium: Graphite
- Dimensions: Sheet: 11 3/4 × 8 3/8 in. (29.9 × 21.2 cm)
Album: 8 11/16 in. × 12 in. × 1 3/8 in. (22 × 30.5 × 3.5 cm) - Classifications: Albums, Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
- Credit Line: Gift of Raphael Esmerian, 1957
- Object Number: 57.662.4(18)
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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