Trade card for Gawthorp, Engraver and Art Metal worker
19th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 3/16 × 2 3/8 in. (3 × 6.1 cm) Plate: 15/16 × 2 1/4 in. (2.4 × 5.7 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Bella C. Landauer, 1926
Accession Number
26.28.195
Art Historical Context
Step into the bustling world of 19th British commerce with this charming trade card for Gawthorp, Engraver Art Metal Worker. Produced by a skilled British engraver, this petite engraving—measuring just 1 3/16 × 2 3/8 inches—served as a promotional tool for Gawthorp's specialized services in fine engraving and ornate metalwork. Trade cards like this were the business cards of the Victorian era often collected by enthusiasts and distributed at markets, shops, or trade fairs to showcase craftsmanship and attract clients. Engraving, the card's medium, highlights the precision and artistry of the ...