This is m'y new purchase.
It is a plate engraved by a famous belgium engraver. Size of diameter +- 10" (25cm)
this name is Leon Lemaitre and he was specialist in game scene near the years 1900.
I am very happy because it is an exceptional purchase.
Maybe a bigger size http://photomaniak.com/upload/out.php/i978148_l1.jpg
I think copy this one for training isn't a good way because the tools and the using was very different than now.
It is just a collector plate with a excellent work by a famous engraver in Belgium and for this time.
Do you know what the plate was used for originally? Since the name is engraved normally, I assume that it was not a printing plate. Was it to be mounted on an object or framed for wall mounting? Any ideas?
Fred, I don't see any wiggle cuts,I see lines cut made with a bruin.The engraver Leon Lemaitre was a print maker. Roland posted his tools on Lindsay site. J.J.Roberts
In the second thumbnail above the main signature and slightly to the right does anyone else see the name Maiti lightly engraved? Like it was trying to be hidden in the detail.
Could this have been a re-used plate or did Maiti do some of the lesser detail work such as the rock texture etc?
It is not unknown to have detail work done by assistants in Europe and Italy and was often done in the Browning/FN factory.
Many times the Masters did the game scenes and another engraver cut the scroll and borders.
Best.
Close up one can see that the engraver used a liner (or what Belgians sometimes call a fourchette) very skillfully. These guys were true professionals and weren't being paid for the time to poke a million dots to create a scene. Yet they were able to to create a refined scene in a reasonable time.
JJ, I think if you enlarge the photo that comes up in the link you will see that most of the single point work is either backgrounded with or over cut with a liner used in walking wriggle cuts . I can't get a blow-up to load without stating a new thread. I'll work on it hope this did it-Fred
It isn't a print plate and it is a present for the neighbourg of Leon Lemaitre.
He was a gun engraver and not an engraver for print maker.
The sign was make with a "frappe" in french. It is a print plate with the name of the engraver and when you shot on it with your hammer you have your name engraved in one time on the steel. The Maiti what you see is the MAIT and the beginning of the R of L.LEMAITRE and not an other engraver.
Yes a lot of line are made with the "fourchette" ( lining graver) the point are doing with it too.
In the game scene on the gun he used often the push graver, the "molette" in french, lining graver, wriggle graver, chisel and acid sometime for the grey zone.
John, Your right there is a name hidden in the engraving,them old peeper's of yours are not missing anything.Roland said the engraver that engraved that plate was a gun engraver.Maybe work at FN. J.J.Roberts
Hey, Guys I am a day late and a dollar short on this one.While you guys where posting,I was posting.Fred I did some engraving on German rifle years ago and the game,Roe Buck were done with a liner,crosshaching for the hair.This has been interesting. J.J.
Thank you for clearing that up, Roland.
I had not put two-and-two together and figured out it was part of his name.
Probably a miss strike or bounce with a punch. I'm semi-expert at that, ha ha.
Looks like he may have burnished and then uses a liner to conceal it.
Thanks JJ, you know they say even a blind hog finds an acorn now and again
Take care, best.
The mistake is very very very small. I must look at with my loupe to find it.
With the picture from digital camera you see all details and better than with yours eyes.
That is a remarkable and beautiful game scene. Thanky you, Roland.
And very realistic considering the time frame. Msr. Leon was ahead of his time.
Best regards.