Design for a Turtle-Shaped Pendant 1618

Jean Toutin created this design for a turtle-shaped pendant, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th century. It is rendered on a small copper plate. This print gives us insight into the way artisans operated in early modern Europe, specifically the interplay of design and craft. The image presents a visual code, the turtle, which resonates with cultural associations of longevity and steadfastness. We can see how artisans drew on both natural forms and symbolic meanings. Made in France, it's a window onto a society where fashion and status were increasingly intertwined. Institutions like the court and the guilds shaped artistic production, and designs like this offered access to luxury. Further research into period jewelry, guild records, and fashion history, helps us understand the social life of this image and how meaning is embedded in the material culture of its time.