FRENCH SHOULDER TILTING / JOUSTING SHIELD TARGE - SCARCE 19TH CENTURY ELECTROTYPE COPY OF THE 15th CENTURY ORIGINAL BY MESSRS. FRANCHI AND SONS FOR THE SOUTH KENSINGTON ( V&A ) MUSEUM

Strengthened with trellis of metal bars, and chased with animals between. The original was, at the time the copy was made, in the Musee d' Artillerie, Paris (see mark on front which denotes this collection). Height 17 inches, Width 14 inches. The metal plaque for Franchi and sons to the reverse. It was commissioned to be copied by the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1857. The public and other museums worldwide were able to order copies for their own private or public display, particularly in the United States, whose museum collections had some catching up to do with European collections of armour.

During the electrotyping process a mould was taken of the original object. In this mould a copper type pattern was electroformed. From this type pattern subsequent moulds were created in which electrotypes were formed. This dish was therefore electroformed in copper from moulds made from a type pattern which itself was electroformed in a mould of the original. The copper electrotype was then electro-gilded.

Each trellis square contains a different animal. There is some wear to the shield's thin silver coating mainly through being handled over the years, but it is a truly remarkable and beautiful peace, exactly copied in every artistic detail (including old repairs made to the original) and flowing shape.

Made from copper, this electrotype was silvered and oxidised using a technique invented by a Belgian in the 1830s. The South Kensington Museum (V&A), quickly grasped the educational potential of this new technique and employed Elkington's and Franchi & Son of Clerkenwell to take moulds of historic and modern objects in the Museum (at their own risk), create copies in a base metal and then electroplate them. These could be sold freely as reproductions, with a gold, silver or bronze finish, provided they bore the South Kensington Museum's official stamp. Franchi and Son was acquired by Elkington & Co in 1874.


Information on the exact location of the original from one of our French cousins would be most welcome.

We will provide a photocopy from the original catalogue of the collection of electrotypes available to order via the museum. published in 1870, and which lists this particular object d'art.

See additional photos of this superb piece in the listing below.

Code: 53264