Birds · 20th century
€ 499
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition for their age with gentle age toning to the paper and occasional small spots in the margins. The printed images remain clean and well preserved.
This elegant set of three Scandinavian ornithological lithographs depicts the Horned Grebe, a striking northern waterbird known for its distinctive breeding plumage and elegant diving behavior. The prints originate from the Swedish natural history publication Svenska Fåglar Efter Naturen Och På Sten Ritade, issued in Stockholm in 1929 by the publisher A. Börtzells. This celebrated series represents one of the finest examples of early twentieth-century Nordic wildlife illustration, combining scientific precision with the restrained aesthetic typical of Scandinavian natural history art.
The species illustrated is Podiceps auritus, commonly known in English as the Horned Grebe or Slavonian Grebe. In Swedish the bird is known as Svarthakedopping. The three plates present different life stages and plumage conditions of the species, offering a complete visual study of the bird.
The first plate illustrates the Horned Grebe in its spectacular breeding plumage. During the breeding season the species develops dramatic golden feather tufts extending behind the eyes, contrasting beautifully with the black head and rich chestnut neck. These “horn-like” plumes give the species its English name and create one of the most distinctive appearances among European waterbirds.
The second plate shows the Horned Grebe standing on a rock in juvenile plumage. Here the bird’s coloring appears softer and more subdued, with striped head markings and grey-brown tones typical of young birds. The artist carefully renders the elongated neck and the distinctive lobed toes that allow grebes to propel themselves efficiently underwater.
The third plate depicts a young bird resting near the water’s edge. The composition emphasizes the compact body shape and gentle posture typical of grebes outside the breeding season. Together the three images create a natural progression from adult breeding plumage to juvenile forms.
Grebes are specialized aquatic birds perfectly adapted to life on lakes and wetlands. Their rear-placed legs and lobed toes make them extraordinary divers capable of pursuing fish and aquatic insects underwater. Because of their graceful silhouettes and elaborate courtship displays, grebes have long fascinated both naturalists and artists.
The prints are executed using fine color lithography, allowing subtle tonal transitions and delicate feather detailing. The Latin scientific name appears beneath each image along with Swedish captions, reflecting the scientific and educational purpose of the publication.
Displayed together, the three lithographs form a balanced and decorative natural history grouping. The subtle colors and elegant compositions work beautifully in coastal interiors, Scandinavian-style homes, studies, or bird and wildlife collections.
These are original color lithographs printed at the time of publication in 1929 and are not later reproductions.
Condition:
Good condition for their age with gentle age toning to the paper and occasional small spots in the margins. The printed images remain clean and well preserved.
Framing tips:
These prints display beautifully as a set of three with generous ivory mats and simple walnut, oak, or Scandinavian-style frames. They work particularly well hung side by side or as part of a natural history gallery wall.
Technique: Color lithographs
Maker: A. Börtzells, Stockholm, Sweden, 1929
