Ornament met twee saters 1520 - 1562

This ornament with two satyrs was made in the 16th century by an artist known only as Monogrammist AC, using the technique of engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process: the artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, usually copper. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image transfers. The crisp, precise lines you see here are characteristic of this process. Engravings like this were often used as models for other artisans – goldsmiths, cabinetmakers, and others who needed decorative patterns. So this tiny print is evidence of a much wider world of making. It shows how easily a design could be circulated, and how it could inspire other kinds of work. The print embodies craft knowledge, shared across time and place.