Native American Widows from Florida Scattering Hair on Husbands' Graves, 1758
€ 140
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1758
Sheet size
27 × 20 cm (10.6 × 7.9 in)
Condition
Fair
Reference
BG-13806-83
Condition
Condition is fair, with general age-related toning, slight offsetting, and overall browning. The image itself has no damage, leaving it perfect for matting or framing. The borders are 'rough' though. Please study the images carefully.
About this sheet
This engraving, titled "Witwen aus Florida, die Ihre Haare auf das Grab Ihrer Manner streuen" (Native American widows from Florida who scatter their hair on the graves of their dead men), visually complements the description. It depicts a group of widows performing a mourning ritual, where they scatter their hair over the graves of their deceased husbands, surrounded by bows, arrows, and quivers, which are symbolic of the warriors who have passed.
The print is an etching or engraving on hand-laid paper, with dimensions matching approximately 7.5 x 9.5 inches overall, with the image itself measuring about 6.8 x 8.5 inches. The piece is part of the 16th volume of "Allgemeine Historie der Reisen zu Wasser und Lande," published in 1758, under the editorship of Johann Joachim Schwabe. The artwork is attributed to an anonymous engraver, based on the works of Jacques Nicolas Bellin, a renowned French hydrographer and geographer.
The condition, as noted, appears fair considering its age, with general age-related toning, slight offsetting, and minor discoloration typical for works of this period. These factors, along with the historical and cultural significance of the depiction, make this print a valuable piece for collectors and historians interested in 18th-century European representations of Native American customs.
