About this sheet
Antique Chinese Costume & Footbinding Study, Ferrario Hand-Coloured Engraving 1815
A rare and historically significant early nineteenth-century hand-coloured copperplate engraving depicting traditional women’s costume and the practice of footbinding in Kiangnan Province, China. This plate originates from Giulio Ferrario’s monumental ethnographic publication *Il Costume Antico e Moderno di Tutti i Popoli* (Milan, circa 1815), one of the most ambitious illustrated surveys of world cultures produced during the Enlightenment era. The engraving was executed by Andrea Bernieri and reflects the European fascination with Chinese society, dress, and customs during the period of expanding global trade and cultural exchange.
The composition is divided into two carefully structured panels. The upper section portrays women from the Kiangnan region dressed in flowing silk robes and traditional headwear, rendered with refined linework and delicate hand-colouring. Their garments demonstrate the European interest in textile richness, silhouette, and cultural identity, conveying both ethnographic curiosity and aesthetic elegance. The figures are presented in profile and three-quarter view, emphasizing posture, costume construction, and ornament.
The lower section illustrates one of the most historically discussed cultural practices of imperial China: footbinding. Detailed images of embroidered shoes accompany depictions of bound feet, providing visual documentation of the transformation associated with this tradition. Such imagery was intended to educate European audiences about unfamiliar customs, reflecting both anthropological observation and the interpretative lens of early nineteenth-century European publishers.
Ferrario’s work occupies an important position between scientific documentation and decorative printmaking. The engraving combines scholarly ambition with artistic clarity, making it appealing to collectors interested in Asian history, cultural anthropology, fashion history, or early ethnographic illustration. Its balanced layout and refined colouring also lend themselves well to interior design settings, where cultural narrative and visual delicacy are valued.
Condition: Good antique condition consistent with age. Light age toning and minor handling marks to margins; plate impression visible. Colours remain fresh and well-preserved.
Framing tips: A dark walnut or ebonized frame with a wide ivory mat enhances the subtle hand-colouring and reinforces a museum-quality presentation. The vertical format works well as a focal piece within a gallery wall of ethnographic or Asian-themed prints.
Technique: Hand-coloured copperplate engraving
Maker: Andrea Bernieri after Giulio Ferrario, Milan (Italy), circa 1815
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