Jewelry Designs
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-466-6
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Jewelry Designs** by Friedrich Jacob Morison, a German artist active from 1693 to 1699, dates to around 1700 and exemplifies the intricate printmaking traditions of late Baroque Europe. Created as a print—likely an engraving—this work served as a pattern sheet for jewelers, showcasing elaborate motifs that would inspire luxurious adornments. Morison's designs capture the opulent aesthetic of the era, with scrolling forms, floral elements, and gemstone settings that reflect the period's fascination with grandeur and technical virtuosity. In the early 18th century, such prints were vital tool...