Design for an Iron Balcony
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-244-11
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Design for an Iron Bal** Gabriel Bonthomme, French artist active around 5, crafted this intricate print in 1777 a blueprint for an elegant iron balcony. Captured during the late Enlightenment era in France—just a decade before the Revolution—this design reflects the era's fascination with refined metalwork adorning grand townhouses and public spaces in Paris and beyond. As a print, it served a practical purpose: disseminating architectural ideas to craftsmen, enabling precise replication of ornate scrolls, balusters, and flourishes that defined urban sophistication. Iron balconies were mo...