Birds · 19th century
€ 140
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
General age-related toning. Minor wear and foxing, blank verso. Good condition with light age spotting in the margins. Please study image carefully.
Pheasant and Wild Turkey, Antique Chromolithograph Game Birds c.1900
This vibrant antique chromolithograph features two striking game birds: the pale variant of the Common Pheasant (*Phasianus colchicus var. subalbidus*) and the Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*). Printed circa 1900, this plate combines two ornithological subjects in a single, elegantly composed print. These richly colored illustrations were likely produced for a German natural history publication or hunting reference atlas, which were popular at the time for their detailed visual documentation and scientific value.
The upper image (Plate 19a) shows a male pale pheasant, referred to in German as “Weisslicher Fasan.” Its white-blushed underparts, chestnut wings, and long striped tail are finely depicted against a backdrop of low shrubs and hilly terrain. The bird’s iridescent green head and red wattle are captured with striking contrast and detail.
Below, Plate 19b portrays a male Wild Turkey (“Wilder Truthahn”) in profile, strolling through a wooded clearing. This bird is rendered with remarkable accuracy, showcasing its scaly plumage, fan-like tail, and distinctive head and wattle coloration. The Wild Turkey, native to North America, was a symbol of interest and novelty in European ornithological works of the time and was admired for its impressive size and behavior.
These plates were produced using chromolithography, a printing technique that involved applying separate color layers using lithographic stones. The result is a richly saturated image with fine tonal gradations, as seen in the plumage, landscape details, and lifelike posture of both birds.
Both illustrations are signed in the plate, likely by German wildlife illustrators active in the late 19th century. This print is ideal for collectors of hunting art, bird illustration, or decorative natural history prints.
Condition and framing tips:
In good condition with some light age foxing around the margins. Best framed with a double mat to separate the two images or in a single tall frame with a neutral mat. Warm wood or walnut frame complements the earthy tones of the birds.
