Designs for Rocaille Motifs
mid- 18th century
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-300-8
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Designs for Rocailleifs** Emmanuelichel (1717–1782), a German artist active during the mid-18th century, created these intricate *Designs for Rocaille Mot* at the height of the Rococo era. Rococo, flourishing across Europe from the 1730s to 1760s, emphasized playful asymmetry, scrolling curves, and nature-inspired ornamentation like shells—known as *rocaille*. As a print from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, these designs likely served as pattern books for artisans crafting furniture, wallpaper, silverware, or architectural details, reflecting the era's lavish decorative a...