Birds · 20th century
€ 349
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition considering age. Light overall age toning to the paper with minor spotting in the margins. The printed image remains clean and well preserved.
Antique Scandinavian Bird Lithograph, Black Stork Ciconia Nigra – Svenska Fåglar 1929
This refined Scandinavian ornithological lithograph depicts the elegant Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), a rare and elusive species known for its graceful form and striking dark plumage with iridescent tones. The print originates from the distinguished Swedish natural history series Svenska Fåglar Efter Naturen Och På Sten Ritade (“Swedish Birds Drawn from Nature and Rendered on Stone”), published in Sweden in 1929 by A. Börtzells. The series stands as a beautiful example of early 20th-century Nordic scientific illustration, combining careful observation with a restrained and decorative artistic style.
The composition presents the Black Stork standing in profile, allowing the artist to emphasize the bird’s elegant proportions and the subtle iridescent coloring of its plumage. Unlike the more familiar White Stork, the Black Stork is far more secretive and prefers remote woodland wetlands and river valleys. The lithograph carefully captures the layered feather structure and the shimmering tones of dark brown, bronze, and green that characterize the species, contrasted by its slender red legs and long pointed beak.
Natural history illustrations of this type were produced both for scientific reference and for a cultivated audience interested in the study of wildlife. Lithography allowed artists to render fine tonal variations and intricate feather patterns with exceptional clarity. The restrained background and generous margins create a balanced composition that reflects the calm aesthetic often associated with Scandinavian design traditions.
The plate bears the scientific name Ciconia nigra Lin. together with the Swedish name Svart Stork, reinforcing the educational character of the publication. Today, prints from this series are appreciated both by collectors of ornithological art and by interior designers who value their elegant natural subject matter and harmonious color palette.
Because of their refined style and generous format, these prints frame beautifully and integrate easily into contemporary interiors, particularly in Scandinavian, modern, or nature-inspired settings.
This is an original 1929 lithograph printed in color during the lithographic process and not a later reproduction.
Condition:
Good condition for its age with light age toning to the paper and minor spotting in the margins. The printed image remains clear and well preserved.
Framing tips:
This print displays beautifully with a generous museum-style ivory mat and a simple walnut, oak, or Scandinavian-style frame. Such framing enhances the subtle tones of the lithograph while preserving the calm and elegant presentation typical of natural history illustrations.
Technique: Color lithograph
Series: Svenska Fåglar Efter Naturen Och På Sten Ritade
Maker: A. Börtzells, Sweden, 1929
Keywords:
antique bird print, black stork lithograph, ciconia nigra, Scandinavian bird illustration, Swedish natural history print, Svenska Fåglar, Nordic wildlife art, vintage ornithology print, stork illustration, antique animal print, Scandinavian wildlife lithograph, natural history bird plate, vintage scientific illustration, bird wall art, decorative ornithology print, 1920s bird lithograph, collectible bird print, Swedish wildlife art
