Goblet of Oriental Sardonyx - Jules Ferdinand Jacquemart

A precise etching by Jules Ferdinand Jacquemart documenting an ornate sardonyx goblet with detailed metalwork mounts.

Jules Ferdinand Jacquemart was a master of the etching medium, particularly recognised for his technical precision in documenting decorative arts and historical objects. This print depicts a vessel carved from sardonyx, a variety of chalcedony, featuring elaborate metalwork mounts. The artist employs a rigorous etching technique to capture the reflective qualities of the stone and the metallic sheen of the gold or gilded bronze fittings.

Jacquemart often worked in collaboration with his father, Albert Jacquemart, to illustrate catalogues of private collections and museum holdings. His approach to these subjects is analytical, focusing on the material properties and the sculptural form of the object. The composition is isolated against a neutral background, which directs the viewer to the specific details of the vessel, such as the winged caryatid handles and the ornate lid.

This particular work demonstrates the artist's ability to translate the tactile nature of hardstone carving into a two-dimensional graphic medium. The lines are controlled and deliberate, building up shadow and volume through cross-hatching and varied pressure. By documenting such objects, Jacquemart provided a visual record of items that were often held in private cabinets of curiosity, making them accessible to a wider audience of scholars and collectors. The print reflects the mid-nineteenth-century interest in the history of decorative arts and the meticulous study of craftsmanship. The inclusion of the original plate marks and the artist's signature in the lower margin provides context for the print's status as a proof, capturing the object with a level of clarity that rivals photography of the period.