Series of 6 engravings by Toutin, depicting jewelry designs in blackwork incorporating "pea-pod" motifs, with vignettes in conventional line engraving, including a crowned king and castle, musicians, a goldsmith and genre scenes; some with additional ornaments and figures of insects, flowers, etc. Numbered in plate: 1-2, III, 4-6. Plate marks: ca. 11 x 8 cm.. Toutin published another similar series; the 2 series were copied as a single series by Jacob van der Heyden in Strasbourg.On plate 1, in banderole at top of image: "Sic vos, non vobis"; in cartouche formed by goat's horns in center of image: "1619. Si quid melius videris."Imprint from plate 1; identification of Toutin as engraver from sources cited. Prints are dated in plate 1618 (no. 6) or 1619 (no. 1-5; another state of plate 5 is known, lacking number and dated 1618)."Blackwork" here refers to a style of ornamental engravings executed in Northern Europe between the 1580s and the 1620s to provide enameling designs for jewelers; chief distinguishing characteristic is the inclusion of areas of solid black. The style was formerly known in English as niello (distinct from the earlier Italian engraving style) or silhouette style. Cf. Christie, R. "Blackwork prints : designs for enamelling," in Print quarterly, v. 5, no. 1 (Mar. 1988), p. 4-20.
Additional physical form: Digital images (Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst/MAK and Kunstbibliothek Berlin copies) available online via Ornamental Prints Online.
Acquisition: Purchase; Susan Schulman, Printseller; 2011/11/08
