Chimneypiece Designs
Medium
Bound print
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-201-94
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Berain the Elder (1640–1711), a master French ornamental designer and engraver, created *Chimneypiece* in the year of his death,1711. Serving as draftsman to King Louis XIV, Berain a pivotal figure in the opulent decorative arts of the Baroque era, influencing everything from Versailles furnishings to theatrical sets. His "Berainesque" style— by swirling arabesques, mythical motifs, and elegant foliage—bridged the grandeur of the Sun King's reign with emerging Rococo lightness. This bound print, a collection of engraved designs for ornate fireplace surrounds (chimneypieces), exemplifies Berain's role in disseminating architectural patterns to artisans across Europe. Such pattern books were essential tools for craftsmen, standardizing luxurious interiors in chateaus and grand homes. Acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum through its Advisory Council, the work highlights transatlantic appreciation for French design, even in an American context. Though research continues, *Chimneypiece Designs* offers a window into 18th-century elegance, where functionality met fantasy in the hearth's glow. (178 words)