Sixteenth Century Chanfron, Soltykoff Collection, Antique Print, 1851

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in gray and black with white highlights, showing a single chanfron, the plate defense for a horse's head, seen from the front. Flared ear guards at the top carry foliate masks. The whole surface is covered with embossed strapwork and scrolls, with lion masks holding rings at either side, and the central oval shows a winged female figure blowing two trumpets. Lower down are a bearded mask, further masks and a basket of fruit, with rope moldings around the muzzle.

The running head reads "LE MOYEN-AGE ET LA RENAISSANCE." at the left and "ARMURERIE." at the right. Below the image are the credits "Rivaud del.", "Chromolith. Lemercier r. de Seine 57, Paris." and "Kellerhoven lith.". The caption reads "CHANFREIN DU XVIe SIÈCLE. (Collection de Mr le Prince Soltykoff à Paris.)" (sixteenth century chanfron, collection of Prince Soltykoff, Paris), followed by "F. Séré direxit."

Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance was edited by Paul Lacroix, who also wrote as the Bibliophile Jacob, with Ferdinand Séré directing the illustrations, and was published in Paris in five volumes between 1848 and 1851. Its chapters, written by a range of specialists, survey the arts, crafts, sciences and customs of Europe from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and its plates reproduce objects, manuscripts and buildings in public and private collections of the day. This plate comes from the fourth volume, of 1851, where it accompanies the section headed "Armurerie" (armor).

The plate can be framed on its own or hung with other plates from the work.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.