Desseins de Brasiers dont les Ornements peuuent Seruir aux Cuuettes, Tables, et autres Ouurages d'Orfeurerie, Plate 2 1660 - 1713

Alexis Loir created this etching, “Desseins de Brasiers,” sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. The print offers a series of designs for braziers, or ornamental containers, intended for use by goldsmiths. The composition is neatly organized into vignettes, each presenting variations on a theme of support and embellishment. Note how Loir uses line to create texture and depth, offering a rich visual vocabulary for artisans. The symmetrical arrangement is disrupted by the dynamism of the figures and grotesque masks. Each design element, from winged figures to fantastical creatures, conveys both aesthetic appeal and symbolic weight. The overall impression is one of exuberant creativity constrained by the formal conventions of the era. The etching functions not merely as a set of templates but as a discourse on the aesthetics and cultural values of the decorative arts during this period. It invites us to consider how form and function intersect within the broader context of artistic production.