Plate from the Print Series 'Grateske voer golt smeden Schrijnwerkers Ende andere des nodich hebbende' 1605 - 1615

This is a plate from the print series “Grateske voer golt smeden Schrijnwerkers Ende andere des nodich hebbende” (Grotesques for Gold- and Silversmiths, Carvers, and Others in Need) by Meinert Gelijs, dating from 1605 to 1615. The print, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts five ornamental designs, each a swirling, intricate form composed of stylized leaves and scrolls. These designs, known as grotesques, were popular decorative motifs in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, often appearing in architecture, furniture, and textiles. The plate's title suggests that Gelijs's work was intended as a practical guide for craftsmen, providing them with patterns for their creations.