Large Pendant, Lower Left and Right Two Griffins Carrying Fantasy Candlesticks 1596

This is Daniel Mignot’s etching, "Large Pendant, Lower Left and Right Two Griffins Carrying Fantasy Candlesticks", created sometime between 1593 and 1616. Mignot, a goldsmith and printmaker, was working during a period of immense social and religious upheaval in Europe. This design for a pendant reflects the era's fascination with elaborate ornamentation and classical motifs. The inclusion of griffins, mythological creatures often associated with guarding treasure, speaks to the values of wealth, power, and the exotic that were so prevalent among the elite. These ornamental prints circulated widely and served as aspirational guides for artisans and their wealthy patrons. While seemingly decorative, prints like this reveal the intricate relationships between art, commerce, and social status in the late Renaissance. The desire for such adornments demonstrates how deeply personal identity was intertwined with material culture. How might the display of such a pendant reinforce social hierarchies?