"Satire on the financial crisis in 1720 with two plates one framing the other. In the centre an etching showing a nymph (Pecunia) and a satyr embracing underneath a palm tree, on the left clouds and wind, on the right coins dropping from the sky, in the foreground, a dish of horse droppings wrapped in gold foil (according to the verse description), a mariner's compass lettered "West" and "Zuid" and papers referring ominously to the financial situation in the coming year. The frame consists of strapwork peopled by callot figures: at the top a civet-cat peers over a cartouche lettered with the title, on either side is draped the cloak of a fool covered with hawks' bells; on the left, at the top, hangs a pair of skates, below this a young dwarf leans out of a window raising his hand to throw a stone, and below him is a large fan of feathers; on the right, at the top, hangs a pair of fur mittens, below this a dwarf looks out of a window blowing his fingers to warm them, and below him hangs a horse-collar (?) decorated with two eagles' heads; at the bottom, a dwarf wearing a fur cap sits in a sledge propelling himself with a stick, beside him, to left, lies a large bundle of twigs and an axe, and, to right, a spade and pick-axe. Engraved Dutch titles, inscriptions, and verses in two columns alluding to the Scotch trader (i.e., John Law)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., Title translation in British Museum catalogue: The keepsake of January which, because of the new golden age, was transformed in horse-figs : New-Year's gift perfumed by the musk of fools' horses and dedicated to Pecunia, Goddess of Money, by the Prince of Stocks, or Viceroy of Plutus, nourishing his ill-placed love in a new hiding-place., Four columns of verse in Dutch above and below the smaller plate: Geen beter Gift in 't Niewe Jaar Was ooit voor 't Actie volk te vinden ..., Plate 82 from: Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid ... , v. 1., and Watermark.
