Design for Upright Decorative Panels 1700 - 1800

This anonymous design from the 18th century is a red chalk drawing for upright decorative panels. It features an oval frame of entwined branches, flanked by a swirly, rococo-style scrollwork that has a masculine visage at its base. The panel is topped with a flaming urn, which is a common motif of the period. The drawing is a beautiful example of the intricate and elegant designs favored during the Rococo period, and this drawing could have been intended for the design of a panel for furniture, architecture, or even a decorative object such as a clock or mirror.