Drie ontwerpen voor zilverbeslag met figuren c. 1705 - 1735

Editor: So, here we have "Three Designs for Silver Mounting with Figures," an engraving likely created between 1705 and 1735, though the artist remains anonymous. It feels very whimsical to me. What strikes you about it? Curator: Whimsical indeed! It’s like stumbling upon a secret language whispered by swirling lines. For me, it's the Baroque's exuberance channelled into miniature. It's an intimate explosion of ornamentation meant to adorn everyday objects, elevating them to something precious. Look at how the animals play along the edges; aren’t they delightful? It’s almost as if the artist is saying, "Why can’t the functional be fantastical?” Editor: Absolutely! It’s like visual candy. I hadn’t really considered the domestic aspect, that someone might’ve handled something like this every day. Curator: Precisely. This wasn't art meant for a museum, originally. Think of a wealthy person in that period... wouldn’t owning a piece of silverware with an extravagant ornament elevate their status? In this time artists aimed to dazzle you in small scale. Are there certain forms that strike your eye the most? Editor: I suppose the symmetrical compositions on either corner of the drawing do the trick for me. Curator: Symmetry can be pleasing to the eye, can't it? It reminds me how we unconsciously find beauty in structure and order, something that brings a sense of peace. I wonder, what everyday object today deserves to be ennobled with such intricate art? Editor: Hmmm, that’s a good question! Maybe our phones? I'm seeing it, diamond encrusted… Curator: (Laughing) That’s definitely Baroque spirit in the 21st century. Thanks, now I want one!