Blackwork Print with Birds and Grotesques Atop a Horizontal Panel, from a Series of Blackwork Prints for Goldsmiths' Work 1615

This 1615 blackwork print by Etienne Carteron is a design for goldsmiths' work. The design includes a central panel decorated with intertwining blackwork motifs. At the top, three birds are perched upon a horizontal panel, and at the bottom, three smaller blackwork panels appear, likely intended as smaller design elements. The print is a prime example of 17th-century French decorative design, using intricate patterns and motifs to enhance the beauty and value of goldsmiths' creations.