Antique Chinese Portraits Print – Confucius & Early Emperors, Ferrario, 1815
€ 240
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1815
Mapmaker / artist
Jules Ferrario, Milan, 1815
Technique
Hand-colored engraving
Sheet size
35.2 × 25.2 cm (13.9 × 9.9 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13000-11
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Good antique condition. Light age-related toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with early 19th-century paper. Original hand coloring well preserved. Original embossed blind stamp visible, as issued, with slight overlap into the image.
About this sheet
Antique Chinese Portraits Print – Confucius & Early Emperors, Ferrario, 1815
This finely hand-colored antique plate presents a group of six historical Chinese portraits, published in 1815 as part of Jules Ferrario’s influential work Le Costume Ancien et Moderne, produced in Milan. Rather than depicting costume alone, this plate brings together key philosophical, political, and imperial figures whose influence shaped early Chinese civilization, making it both historically and intellectually significant.
The portraits shown are identified as follows:
Ferrario’s approach is scholarly and comparative, presenting each figure with careful attention to facial expression, attire, and symbolic detail. The restrained hand coloring enhances the clarity of the engravings while maintaining a refined, encyclopedic tone. Plates such as this were intended to educate European audiences about world history and culture, combining costume study with historical portraiture.
As with other plates from the Milan edition of Le Costume Ancien et Moderne, this sheet bears the original embossed blind stamp associated with the publication. This dry stamp was applied at the time of issue and serves as an important indicator of authenticity. As issued, the embossing may lightly overlap the image area.
The print is offered unframed and stands equally well as a scholarly collectible or as a visually engaging decorative work, appealing to collectors of Asian history, philosophy, and early ethnographic illustration.
Condition Report: Good antique condition. Light age-related toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with early 19th-century paper. Original hand coloring well preserved. Original embossed blind stamp visible, as issued, with possible light overlap into the image area. No major tears or restorations observed.
Framing Tips: This plate benefits from a simple, museum-style presentation. An ivory or warm off-white mat will complement the paper tone and hand coloring, while a darker frame in walnut, ebonized wood, or subtle gilt will give the portraits visual authority. A generous mat margin enhances the print’s scholarly character and allows the embossed stamp to remain visible.
