Wapen van de familie Cranendoncq 1809 - 1869

This is a wood engraving of the Cranendoncq family crest, made by Alexander Cranendoncq, sometime in the mid-19th century. The image is small, but we can still appreciate the qualities of the end-grain boxwood that Cranendoncq would have used, a dense and resilient material that holds crisp detail. Looking closely, you can see that the lines are not only precise, but have a slightly raised quality, a tell-tale sign of the burin slicing through the wood. The process of wood engraving lends itself beautifully to heraldry. Consider the way that the technique’s graphic quality enhances the image of the crest, giving it definition. In heraldry, every element is carefully considered to convey a sense of identity and history. The engraving not only captures this, but adds its own layer of cultural significance. In understanding this small but powerful image, we see how materials and making contribute to the artwork, while blurring the lines between craft, design, and art.