Antique Etched Copper Fob Medals Printing Plates

Unique etching on copper of fob medals for Albertine watch chains. This is a commercial copper printing plate, dating late Victorian to Early Edwardian The coppers would have been slowly hand engraved. The holes are for tiny pins to fasten on blocks of wood. These plates offer a unique glimpse into historical printing techniques making them valuable for collectors and experts interested in vintage printing, antique silver or medal collectors These would have been used to print silversmiths or goldsmith catalogues and advertisements. Use these the recreate a piece of jewellery, tack onto leather bags. Or enjoy these unique plates purely for decorate effect and add non glass frame. Be creative with your end use. Sold as a set of 5 A Bit of History In the eighteenth century, there was a growing demand for reproductive engravings of well known paintings, especially those using high quality plates. However, detailed engravings from this period had a limited number of impressions before the plate wore out. Many line engravers were also skilled goldsmiths and artisans. The pure line engraving technique was complex, often requiring months to complete a single plate and lengthy apprenticeships to master the craft. Dimensions Each are approximately Height: 4cm Width: 3cm