Desseins de Brasiers dont les Ornements peuuent Seruir aux Cuuettes, Tables, et autres Ouurages d'Orfeurerie, Plate 4 1660 - 1713

Alexis Loir created this print, Desseins de Brasiers, in France, probably in the late 17th century, using etching. It shows designs for braziers, which are essentially ornamental containers for holding hot coals. These designs were intended to be used by goldsmiths in creating luxury items for the wealthy. This print reflects the opulence of the French court under Louis XIV, where lavish displays of wealth and power were common. The brazier designs themselves evoke classical antiquity through the use of mythological figures and motifs. These references would have been understood by elite audiences, reinforcing their social status and cultural knowledge. The print also demonstrates the importance of the decorative arts in early modern Europe, where skilled artisans played a crucial role in shaping material culture. To fully understand the print, one could look into the history of French decorative arts, the social history of consumption in the 17th century, and the political uses of art under Louis XIV.