Ornamental Ironwork on a Window or Shutter
ca. 1880
Medium
Graphite and pen and ink
Dimensions
sheet: 5 3/16 x 2 15/16 in. (13.1 x 7.4 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1960
Accession Number
60.632.153(3)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing from around 1880 captures the intricate details of ornamental ironwork designed for a window or shutter. Created by the firm Richardson Ellson & Co. using graphite and pen and ink on a small sheet measuring just over five by three inches, the work exemplifies the precision required in architectural design during the late Victorian era. Such studies allowed artisans to refine patterns before translating them into durable metal, blending functionality with decorative elegance. In the 1880s, ornamental ironwork flourished in both public and private buildings, reflecting the...