Banknote motif: lathe work ornament resembling a long flat woven basket 1819 - 1847

Cyrus Durand made this banknote motif in the 19th century, using a technique called lathe work. The intricate, woven appearance you see wasn't created by hand. Instead, it's the product of a specialized machine that could generate incredibly precise, repeating patterns. Look closely, and you’ll notice the design is made up of tiny, interlocking shapes. These were cut into a metal plate, which would then be used to print the design onto banknotes. The material is crucial here. The choice of metal for the printing plate allowed for durability and the capacity to reproduce the design countless times. The machine and the material speak to a desire for security, and the need to prevent counterfeiting in an expanding capitalist economy. This motif reminds us that even the most commonplace objects can be understood through the lens of craft, design, and materiality, blurring the boundaries between art and industry.