biglam/cooper-hewitt-alt-text huggingface dataset:
Allegories of the Four Continents
Jacques Le Moyne, 18th century
Tin-glazed earthenware
Tiles

Group of four tiles, square, with blue underglaze decoration on buff ground, each with name of one of the four continents, and corresponding allegory and attributes within a circular medallion: -72a, "Asia," showing turbaned figure riding in a howdah on back of an elephant, with two attendants; birds in foreground, turreted architecture in background; -72b, "Europa," showing a lady, cavalier and dog in foreground, watching woman in a sedan chair carried by two men; European style buildings in background; -72c, "Africa" with a turbaned man and woman, with attendant holding parasol, with the attributes of monkey, ostrich and camel; -72d, "America" showing an Indian in feather skirt and headdress, carried on a litter by five similarly but less ornately dressed Indians, and attended by one holding a fan; at left a conquistador on horseback, and a cockatoo on a branch; in right background, a sailing ship.
Design for Sideboard with Brass Rail and Brass Feet
A.N. Davenport Co., 1900–05
Pen and black ink, some graphite, on thin cream paper
Drawing

Rectangular sideboard with rounded corners and six straight tapered legs; flat front has three drawers: two smaller ones side-by-side over one larger one; side panels decorated in patera medallions; brass rail at back of top; sketch of wine decanter and dish atop sideboard; also slight sketch of rectangle upper right corner.
Tea Service
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, German, active from 1710 to the present, mid- 18th century
hard paste porcelain, vitreous enamel, gold
tea service

1912-13-12-a,b: Globular body, scrolled strap handle; spout termin...
Textile
, ca. 1840
cotton Technique: roller printed on plain weave

Four scenes - three captioned in French - in a diamond grid of leaves in purple and yellow. Showing soldiers taking liberties with the countryside. Under scene of soldiers stealing cooked meat from a sleeping Chinese person:"qui dort dine" (You snooze, you lose). Under a scene of soldiers holding a pig by the tail: "tiens ferme" (Hold tight). Under a scene of soldiers trying to lure a chicken from its coop so they can kill it: "petits petits" (chicks chicks).
Tree with Stags and Roe
, ca. 1830
Silhouette of black paper on white paper mount
Silhouette

Tree with stags and roe.
Ishiyakushi Temple, in The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido Gojusan Tsugi-no Uchi)
Ando Hiroshige, Japanese, 1797–1858, ca. 1834
Woodblock print (ukiyo-e) on mulberry paper (washi), ink with color
Print

Left, village temple among trees at base of hill. Beyond are summits of another range of hills. Porters pass along road towards left. Right, two men working in rice fields.
Carceri Series, Plate XII
Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Italian, 1720–1778, 1745
Etching
Print

Horizontal rectangle. A low vaulted chamber, with torture instruments in the foreground and steps leading to a platform in the left background. Upper right, Calcografia number 360.
Sampler
, 17th century
linen embroidery on linen foundation Technique: embroidered in withdrawn element work with needle-made fillings on plain weave foundation

Two bands of withdrawn element work in white.
Vase
Rookwood Pottery, American, 1880 - 1967, 1922
Glazed earthenware

Thrown refined white stoneware body of tapering cylindrical form, flaring to circular foot.  Decorated underglaze with trees and landscape, shaded predominantly in dark green and blue. Transparent matte glaze.
Textile
, ca. 1795
cotton Technique: block printed on plain weave

A half-drop multicolored floral stripe of two medallions, one above the other, tilted in opposing diagonals and containing flowers. The medallions are supported by scrolling brackets. Stripes divided by narrow stripe with motif resembling peacock feathers. Background is yellow. Two blue warps in right side of component "b."
Curtains
, 1850–99
cotton, silk Technique: appliqué on net

Curtain panels of black net with ochre cotton appliqué forming flowers and leaves outlined in chain stitch with tan and light brown silk or covered in chain stitch with white, pale and bright pink, yellow, tan or pale green silks. In center is a large basket with overflowing flowers and leaves suspended on two long ribbons from the top of the curtain. Sides and bottom are scalloped. Some of the centers of the blossoms have been cut out and filled with six threads knotted in the center to form spokes.
Border
, 1700–1750
linen Technique: bobbin lace, Brussels style

A scalloped border with a serpentine arrangement of flowers and fruits.
Sidewall
, 1860–1900
Block-printed on paper

Large-scale tangle of roses. Printed in grisaille on gray ground.
Fragments
, mid–late 18th century
cotton Technique: mordant painted and dyed and resists dyed (chintz) on plain weave (black outline printed; reds, purples and blues filled in by brush)

Ornate diagonal grid in blue containing floral motifs.
Border fragment
, 18th century
linen Technique: withdrawn element work, knotting (macramé)

Border fragment with deep knotted fringe.
Headpiece
, 1870s
beads, fur, leather, brass Technique: strung beads, stitched to fur

Rows of beads in red, green, white and black are attached to the top and bottom of a shaped band of fur. Three small brass knobs at the center top. Leather thongs attached at edges, for tying on to head.
The Raven
Eugene Higgins, American, 1874–1958, ca. 1915
Pastel on paper, laid down on cardboard
Drawing

A drowning man clutches for a buoy. Overhead a raven flies in a spot of light. In the right distance, buildings on a rocky promentory.
Border
, ca. 1860
Block-printed and flocked

Wide central band of fluted rod and ribbon twist. Acanthus leaves also wrap around the rod at intervals. Narrow band of beading above. Band of husk or bellfower along bottom edge a) printed in brown flock and shades of tan; b) printed in green flock and shades of tan.
First Annual Bronx Press Club Banquet
, ca. 1905
German silver (white metal)
Matchsafe

Oblong, curved sides and corners, all sides slightly cinched at middle, featuring raised decoration on perimeter of stylized, sinuous, whiplash lines, large and smaller flower motifs at bottom and on lower right hand corner, central reserve inscribed "Bronx Press Club", below is incised decoration of old-style printing press; reverse features identical raised decoration, central reserve inscribed  "First Annual Banquet, Tuesday April 25, 1905." Lid hinged on side. Striker on bottom.
Sketchbook Page: Portrait of "El Primo," After Velázquez
Kenyon Cox, American, 1856–1919, 1883
Graphite on paper
Sketchbook folio

Study of portrait by Velázquez of The Jester Don Diego de Acedo (1645), shown from the shoulders up.
Floral design for printed textile
Louis-Albert DuBois, Swiss, 1752–1818, 1800–1818
Brush and gouache, graphite on white wove paper
Drawing

White leaf design on lilac ground.
Design for Decorative Panel for July Festival Architecture
Félix Duban, French, 1797 - 1870, 1834
brush and watercolor, pen and black ink, graphite, gouache on off-white paper mounted on off-white laid paper
Drawing

Geometric oriental design red, green, blue, gold, and black for dado panels of music pavilion (see 1991-17-7).  Elongated hexagon between two circular fields with four-lobed leaf-like objects at center.  Decorative bands at top and bottom are partially described.
Frieze
, 1870–1910
Block-printed on ingrain paper, mica flakes

Flitter frieze with wide central band of foliate rinceau. Along both top and bottom edges run narrow bands of meandering foliate vines against blue background. Printed in shades of tan, brown, blue and mica flakes on ungrounded salmon-color ingrain paper.
Drawing
Louis-Albert DuBois, Swiss, 1752–1818, ca. 1801
Graphite and graphtie on laid paper

Upper left, yellow and violet flower; upper right, four yellow and black flowers; lower left, red clover-like flower; lower right, two blue flowers.  Ruled border line in pencil.
Pleated fan
, late 19th century
Parchment leaf lined with silk and painted with gouache, pierced mother-of-pearl sticks painted with gold and silver, rivet set with faceted stone, gilt metal bail

Parchment leaf lined with silk and painted with gouache showing a street scene with a soldier buying flowers from a vendor. Pierced mother-of-pearl sticks painted with gold and silver showing flowers.  Rivet set with faceted ruby-colored stone and gilt metal bail.
Sidewall
, 1875–1900
Machine-printed

Against an off-white ground is printed an all-over marbled pattern in silvery shades of pale red, yellow and blue. Printed in margin: "M.G. 972" and other illegible lettering.
Sketchbook Page: Portrait of Child
Kenyon Cox, American, 1856–1919, 1883
Graphite on paper
Sketchbook folio

Portrait of child, seen frontally, with wide eyes.
Design for a Mantel in the Chinese Taste, plate 36, in One Hundred and Fifty New Designs
Thomas Johnson, English, 1714–1778, 1756
Engraving on paper
Print

Design for a fireplace mantel and irons in the Chinoiserie style. Above, a putti astride a flying bird carrying lightning bolts. Directly below, a painting of a ship in a storm. Birds, tree branches and a marine caryatid below, at either side.
Band
, 18th–19th century
silk embroidery on linen foundation Technique: embroidered in bokhara couching stitch on plain weave

Wide border of heavy linen embroidered in two shades of red, blue, green and black. Large, bold pattern of tulips alternating with heavily drawn palmette.
Sidewall
, 1825
Block printed on paper

Printed in imitation of irisé, or rainbow paper. The design is based on a horizontal figure, roughly hexagonal outlined in green. Vertical panels are formed by the arrangement of these figures vertically, the centers of one column of hexagonals being yellow and the adjoining hexagonals having lavender centers. The design is rendered in wavy foliate outlines. Printed in yellow, lavender, green, light green and dark green on a white ground.
Border
, early 17th century
linen, gold metallic foil wound onto yellow silk Technique: grid of laid cords with needle lace (reticella style) Label: linen and metallic needle lace

Fragment of a deep lace border with figures of St. Anthony and the Christ Child, flanked by large geometric rosettes, interspersed with floral and foliated forms. Upper and lower borders have geometric motifs in an alternating pattern.
Fragment
, 16th–17th century
linen Technique: needlework on hand knotted net

Fragment of a border with a symmetrical vine and flower pattern.
Seated boy playing a lute
Elihu Vedder, American, 1836 – 1923, ca. 1890
Pastel crayon on paper
Drawing

Young male figure seated on a bench, turned slightly to the right, playing a lute.
Brooklyn Sanitary Fair of 1864, the Academy of Music
A. Brown and Company, 1864
Colored inks
Print

Vertical rectangle. View from the stage showing the display. Spectators stand in the foreground. Below: "Brooklyn Sanitary Fair, 1864 / View of the Academy of Music as seen from the Stage."
Plate XVI from Theatrum instrumentorum et machinarum
Julio Paschale, 1582
Woodcut on paper
Print

Showing a cart with the wheels drawn by one horse, a small wheel center, in front; the driver and others behind him in a basket woven body, with slats across the top on hoops. Description in Latin on verso of 1949-152-213.
Cravat end
, 1700–1750
linen Technique: bobbin lace, Brussels style Label: linen bobbin lace

Cravat end of Brussels-style lace with a hunter on horseback in the center, surrounded by fantastic foliage, trees and flowers, birds, a rabbit, a deer, and other animals. A figure with a spear blowing a horn in the lower right corner, and two figures carrying birds? in the upper left.
Miser's purse
, 1840–70
silk, metal-wrapped silk core threads, metal beads and rings Technique: crochet Label: crocheted silk and metallic thread, metal beads and rings

Crocheted net of pale green and gold-colored metal thread crocheted in cone shapes.  Cone shapes outlined in very small cut steel beads; fine steel bead tassels at each end.  Two steel rings control side closing.
Saucer, from a Breakfast Service (Soucoupe; Déjeuner Mosaïque Florentine)
Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory, French, established 1756, 1813
hard paste porcelain, vitreous enamel, gold
saucer

1981-38-5: Circular form with alternating large roundels of f...;     1981-38-6: Flat-based cup with straight sides, tapered slight...
Doorway Elevation with Papal Coat of Arms
Giovanni Ottaviani, ca. 1735 – 1808, ca. 1758–1769
Engraving on paper
Print

Doorway elevation with "PAVLUS III - PONT - MAX" above portal, possibly with Pope Leo XI's coat of arms above.
Dessert Dish
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, German, active from 1710 to the present, mid- 19th century
hard paste porcelain, vitreous enamel, gold
dish

Oval, with partially gilded molded scrollwork that forms handles. Relief decoration divided bowl into two.
Seated Woman
George Charles Aid, American, 1872–1938, 1907
Carbon imprint
Drawing

Carbon copy of 1959-49-243-a
Frieze
Howell and Brothers, 1835 – 1900, 1905–1915
Machine-printed paper, liquid mica

Printed two borders across the width, on beige ground, spirals of gray vines with white petals highlighting; bands in tan.
Darning sampler (unfinished)
, 19th century
cotton embroidery on wool foundation Technique: embroidered in running stitches (pattern darning) on plain weave foundation

Twelve squares of pattern darning at the right end of the cloth.
knife
, 19th century
steel, ibex horn, horn

1985-103-276-a: Flat paper case for five implements covered with s...;     1985-103-276-b: Straight-sided blade with rounded ends, rounded bo...;     1985-103-276-c: Four tined fork, waisted shoulder, baluster-shaped...;     1985-103-276-d: Toothpick tapering towards both ends.50
Ornament with the Man of Sorrows, Mary and John
Daniel Hopfer, German, 1470 - 1536, ca. 1520
Etching on
Print

A panel with the Virgin and Saint John standing at the foot of the Cross with the Virgin and Child, and angels above.
Handkerchief
, 19th century
piña (pineapple) fiber, cotton Technique: embroidery and drawnwork on plain weave

Handkerchief in piña cloth with scalloped edge, buttonholed and with border of flowering vine, embroidered in cotton, crossing circles of drawnwork. Corner in black and white with word: "Recuerdo" with bird above and small dog or cat below flowers.
Ceiling paper
Maxwell & Co., S.A., Chicago, Illinois, USA, 1905–1915
Machine-printed paper

Alternating medallions. Smaller medallion is placed in center of lag-and-feather floral petals. Ground is cream. Printed in yellow, gold mica, green mica, and pink mica.
Printed in right selvedge: S. A. Maxwell & Co.
Tradecard, Frederick Crace and Son, London
Frederick Crace, English, 1779–1859, 1838–40
Engraving, black ink on white cardboard
Print

Horizontal rectangle. Divided into two registers, upper register: royal coat of arms; lower register: text.
Box and cover
, 1880–90
Cardboard and paper

Rectangular box and cover (formerly paper-hinged) covered with glossy pink paper and with strips of multicolored paper framing two colored lithograph prints of young girls on the cover. Inside edged with lace paper.
Renaissance architectural detail
Jean-Robert Ango, French, active in Rome 1759 –1770, d. 1773, ca. 1759–70
Red chalk on paper
Drawing

Renaissance architectural detail. Archway with a frieze above and an Ionic column on the left.
Fork from a Cutlery Set
, 1650–1700
steel, wood, horn, silver, brass
fork

Long two-tined fork with rounded shoulders and short baluster stem. Tapered wooden handle of oval section with beaked end. Handle divided laterally by bands of laminated red-brown horn, silver, and brass. Handle piqué and inlaid with rozettes and dots of different metals. Rozette on flat end.
McCool's Farmhouse
Harry Fenn, American, 1845–1911, 1887
Pen and ink on cream paper
Drawing

View of a small farmhouse with a steep roof.
Sidewall and border
, 1870–90
Machine-printed

Variety of pieces in the Aesthetic or Anglo-Japanesque style. Fragments include a sidewall, frieze and ceiling paper.
Sketchbook Page: Star of Bethlehem
Kenyon Cox, American, 1856–1919, 1874
Graphite on paper
Sketchbook folio

Recto: Studies of the Star of Bethlehem, a flower with six long, pointed petals; full plant shown as well as flower from the top, in profile, and as a closed bud. 
Verso: Sketch of open flower with bud, two leaves, and stem.
Billingsgate
James McNeill Whistler, American, 1834–1903, 1859
Etching and drypoint on white laid paper
Print

Men converse on a barge, presented in the left foreground in sharp perspective. Just beyond, fishing boats line the river with their masts standing up against the sky. Through the masts, London Bridge is visible. At left, the buildings that make up the Billingsgate Market are shown with people bustling up stairs from the river. The clock tower is visible at upper left.
Design for Wall Brackets, Plate 42 in One Hundred and Fifty New Designs
Thomas Johnson, English, 1714–1778, 1756–57
Etching, engraving on cream laid paper
Print

Several designs of brackets with stalactite-like decoration.
Chintz fragment
, 18th century
cotton Technique: mordants for 2 reds and purple applied by pen and brush; madder dyed; blue applied over resist; yellow applied by brush; chitnz on plain weave

Portion of one end of a fabric showing blue heading and exotic flowers.
Fragment
, 16th century
silk on linen Technique: embroidered on plain weave

Fragment with an allover pattern of lobed squares containing small shield-like motifs and stars. Between squares are cartouches with Kufic inscriptions. Embroidery is predominantly red, dark yellow and black.
Jar from Traveling Dressing Case
Thomas Whitehouse, British, active 1848-98, 1875
glass, silver
jar

Tall glass jar with a polygonal base and silver top. The jar has a many-pointed star cut into the bottom. The silver top has incised decoration with a five-banded border with three different pattern types. The center of the lid has a monogram.
Card with David and His Harp
, ca. 1890
Chromolithographed colors on paper
Greeting card

Constructed of several parts, joined together:  a ship in full sail with mounted cut-outs of vases of flowers and the Statue of Liberty, David and his harp. New Year's greeting in Hebrew and English revealed when closed.
Tree, Catskill, New York
Frederic Edwin Church, American, 1826–1900, July 1844
Graphite on tan wove paper
Drawing

Botanical and landscape showing a view of a deciduous tree in or near Catskill, New York, growing out of rocky, rugged terrain. In the foreground at right, a craggy rock formation emerges from the grounds as vegetation grows in its crevices. At center, the tree grows diagonally to the right. Its two large boughs, which are mostly leafless, split into a "V" as they divide from the trunk. Another, smaller tree behind it is incompletely rendered.
Sidewall
, 1795–1805
Block-printed, handmade paper

Vertical rectangle. Drop-repeating design of lozenges, in alternating files, filled with flower basket, macaws; steeple and floral arabesque.
Jar
Robert Frederick Blum, American, 1857–1903, 1877
Graphite on wove paper
Drawing

Sketch of a jar with decorative ram's head handle.
Ceiling Design
Nicolas Pierre Loir, French, 1624 - 1679, ca.1660–1713
Etching on paper
Print

Design for a square or rectangular ceiling with a detailed view of one end. The center is blank and framed by an egg repeat pattern molding. The border is decorated with ornament framed by leaf repeat pattern moldings. The ornament features winged putti torsos, mask (mascaron), shell, rosettes, ram's heads, festoons of leaves, ribbons, foliate scrolls, scrolling leaves (rinceaux), a vase, cartouche with female figures, cornucopia of fruit, and arms and armor. The plate is numbered and signed.
Button
, 19th century
brass

1931-59-180-d: shield showing coat of arms [sword, blazing sun, a...
Eight Designs for Decorated Mouldings
C. C., French, active 19th c., 1811
Graphite, pen and black ink, brush and grey watercolor, brush and black on light creamy paper
drawing

The top row: torus moulding in the shape of a laurel garland with a medallion with a six-pointed star. Second row: three bead mouldings. Third row: a frieze with appliqués. In the middle is a palmette motif; at the ends two rosettes of different designs. Fourth row: a torus moulding in the shape of two garlands connected by a shell (?). Fifth row: a torus moulding consisting of laurel garlands springing from chalices, which are separated by a rosette and two chalices. Bottom row: a torus moulding in the shape of an oak garland springing from a shell, and surrounded by a ribbon with palmettes.
Design for a Lighthouse
A. Le Canu, French, active 1746 – 1768, 1760–75
Engraving on white laid paper
Print

Design for a Neoclassical lighthouse with a smooth-faced horizontal banded rusticated façade. Doors on the sides, with windows above, and a central door on the balcony level. Figures visible on the balcony and around the base of the lighthouse. The French royal coat of arms on the upper façade of the tower. Topped with a flaming/ smoking urn or vase framed within a round trellised structure. Clouds in the background and steps leading up to the lighthouse. A scale below the design. The plate is titled and numbered.
Stage Design, Interior of Renaissance Building
, early 19th century
Pen and bistre ink, brush and wash on paper
Drawing

Vertical rectangle. Renaissance building interior with high vaults.
Trophées de Musique
Richard de Lalonde, French, active 1780–96, 1775-1788
Etching on off-white laid paper
Print

Three trophy designs. The trophy on the left includes cymbals and a horn; the center trophy has a lyre and two horns; the trophy on the right, a xylophone and a horn. The plate is signed, but the numbering has been trimmed.
Sampler
Ann Mack, 1800
cotton and silk embroidery, cotton foundation Technique: running and drawnwork stitches on plain weave

Eight people holding sprays arranged in the form of a wreath around "Ann Mack 1800."  Lion, man on horseback, a burrow, headless animal, and a building labeled "Melville Castle."
Trimming
, 19th century
silk Technique: woven

Trimming fragment in a design of alternating ornaments comprised of leaves, scrolls and dots in mauve on a yellow ground.
Altar
Giuseppe Barberi, Italian, 1746–1809, n.d.
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash
Drawing

Horizontal rectangle. The left side. A variation of the altar in 1938-88-1373. The main differences are: the sepulchrum has bathtub shape, with a nearly pointed cover, and lion feet as supports. It stands upon a base, in the full width of the hollow. A cherub is on top of the volute beside. The tabernacle is in the middle of the furniture, without being separated from teh lateral parts. The moldings of the furniture have different proportions. The general shape of teh tabernacle and of its decoration is similar to 1938-88-1374, without the cherub. The monogram has a particular shape. Usual background.
Vase de marbre blanc, dans la grande allée à Versailles
Marie Michelle Blondel, French, active mid 18th century, 1744–56
Etching on laid paper
Print

Design for a vase from the Great Lawn in the gardens at Versailles. The vase is decorated with flowers and acanthus leaf ornament with fluting around the body of the vase. The description is lettered on either side of the foot, with a scale below the base. The plate is signed.
Plate from Frises, Feuillages et Grotesques (Friezes, Foliage and Grotesques)
Stefano della Bella, Italian, 1610–1664, ca. 1645
Etching on laid paper
Print

Horizontal rectangle showing four masks with acanthus leaf arabesques.
European Green Woodpecker on Branch with Rose and Forget-Me-Nots
, ca. 1800–1830
Pen and ink, graphite on coated wove paper
Drawing

European Green Woodpecker on Branch with Rose and Forget-Me-Nots
Sketch for Design
Walter Shirlaw, American, b. Scotland, 1838–1909, 1875–80
Graphite on brown paper
Drawing

A seated male nude shown obliquely from the left, with head in three-quarter profile turned toward right. The left forearm is shown as leaning on something. The right arm is stretched out, the hand not shown. The right leg is stretched out, the left is not.