Banknote motifs: band of lathe work ornament and two monograms using the letters U.S.
Medium
Engraving on chine collé; proof
Dimensions
plate: 2 5/16 x 3 7/8 in. (5.9 x 9.9 cm) sheet: 2 7/8 x 6 in. (7.3 x 15.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph Veach Noble, 2002
Accession Number
2002.333.29
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 19th century, American banking expanded amid economic growth and frequent counterfeiting threats, firms like A. B. & C. Durand & Company Durand, Perkins, and, and engraver Cyrus Durand pioneered intricate designs for banknotes. This proof engraving, dated around 1824–42, showcases delicate motifs including a band of lathe work—a geometric ornament produced by a rose engine lathe for its hypnotic, nearly impossible-to-replicate patterns—and two monograms formed from the letters "U.S." At just 2 5/16 x 3 7/8 inches, it's a testament to the precision required for secure currency. Pr...
About the Artist
A. B. & C. Durand & Company|Durand, Perkins, and Company|Cyrus Durand (American|American|American) · 1824 |1796 |1787 –1832 |1886 |1868
American, active 1824–32|American, Jefferson, New Jersey 1796–1886 Maplewood, New Jersey|American, 1787–1868