Bookplate: Coat of Arms with Foster inscribed below - John Mason Furnass

A fine eighteenth-century heraldic bookplate engraving by John Mason Furnass, featuring the Foster family coat of arms and motto.

This engraving by John Mason Furnass represents a classic example of late eighteenth-century American bookplate design. Furnass, active in Boston during the post-Revolutionary period, produced this work for the Foster family. The composition follows the conventions of heraldic art, featuring a central shield adorned with hunting horns and a chevron, surmounted by a crest depicting a stork.

The surrounding mantling displays the fluid, decorative lines characteristic of the period, with floral motifs emerging from the scrollwork. A ribbon banner wraps around the base of the shield, bearing the motto: TO ROCK THE CRADLE OF REPOSING AGE. The name Foster is inscribed in a graceful script at the bottom right, accompanied by the artist's signature, J.M. Furnass, Sc. (sculpsit).

Technically, the work demonstrates the precision required for copperplate engraving. The lines are clean and controlled, allowing for the reproduction of fine detail in a small format. The use of cross-hatching provides depth to the shield, while the lighter, sweeping strokes of the mantling create a sense of movement. This piece offers a glimpse into the personal identity and social aspirations of the American gentry during the late 1700s, when personal libraries were often marked with such custom-designed plates. The aesthetic reflects the influence of European heraldic traditions adapted to the tastes of the early American republic.