Wrought Iron Grille of 1576, Lüneburg Town Hall, Antique Print, 1851

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in iron gray with a small coat of arms in red, gold and blue, lettered "(1576). GRILLE EN FER FORGÉ, à l'Hôtel de Ville de Lunebourg (Hanôvre)". One large grille is drawn flat and frontally, divided by riveted bars into four upright bays and two tiers. Each panel is filled with concentric scrolls and spirals ending in leaves and small flower heads, and the second bay carries a nameplate lettered "IHANSRVGE" above smaller paired roundels. Along the top runs a cresting of scrolls and large wrought flowers on tall stems, and above the second bay a square panel shows a towered castle with a lion in the gateway, held by two lion supporters beneath the date 1576.

The running head reads "LE MOYEN-AGE ET LA RENAISSANCE." and "FÉRONNERIE." (ironwork), spelled with a single R on the sheet. The credits are "H. Soltau del.", "Chromolith. Lemercier à Paris" and "Regamey lith.", with "F. Séré direxit" at the foot. In English the caption reads: (1576). Grille in wrought iron, at the town hall of Lüneburg (Hanover).

Paul Lacroix, known also by his pen name the Bibliophile Jacob, edited Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance with Ferdinand Séré as director of the plates. The five volumes appeared in Paris between 1848 and 1851 and cover the customs, crafts, sciences and arts of medieval and Renaissance Europe, each chapter illustrated after objects then held in public and private collections. The present plate comes from the fourth volume of 1851.

With its lettering intact, the plate suits a plain mat and a simple frame, and it hangs well beside other plates from the same chapter.

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