Alexis Loir

Alexis Loir was a graphic artist and designer active around 1660. His output focuses on ornamental prints utilized primarily for decorative arts and metalwork trades. Seven Alexis Loir prints are currently held in museum collections, confirming his role as a specialized design engraver during the mid-17th century.

Loir’s primary documented work is the design suite, Desseins de Brasiers dont les Ornements peuuent Seruir aux Cuuettes, Tables, et autres Ouurages d'Orfeurerie. This collection features intricate drawings specifically intended as models for silversmiths and goldsmiths crafting braziers, basins, and other ornate table objects. The represented works include the full title sheet and several subsequent plates from the series, specifically Plate 1, Plate 2, Plate 3, and Plate 4.

The survival of these design blueprints underscores Loir’s contribution to the dissemination of decorative aesthetics in Europe. Examples of his work are preserved institutionally, notably by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As his work dates to the seventeenth century, the original engravings are widely considered to be in the public domain, making high-quality prints available for study and reference today.