Antique Korean Costume Figure Lithograph, Traditional Korean Dress, 1852
€ 160
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1852
Mapmaker / artist
Dutch , circa 1852
Technique
Original hand-colored lithograph
Sheet size
26.3 × 17 cm (10.4 × 6.7 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14288-14
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 with age toning, scattered foxing, and light surface wear consistent with age and handling. Minor marginal wear and small imperfections at the sheet edges. Original hand-coloring remains fresh.
About this sheet
Antique Korean Costume Figure Lithograph, Traditional Korean Dress, 1852
An elegant and unusual mid-19th century hand-colored lithograph depicting a Korean man in traditional costume, titled “Inboorling van Korea” (“Native of Korea”). The figure is portrayed standing in regional dress with characteristic wide-brimmed hat, loose tunic, striped stockings, and walking staff, rendered with a restrained palette and delicate ethnographic detail.
Produced during a period of growing European fascination with East Asia, this lithograph belongs to the tradition of 19th-century costume and ethnographic studies intended to introduce distant cultures to a Western audience. Korean subjects from this period are considerably scarcer than comparable Japanese or Chinese costume plates, giving the work particular collector and decorative appeal today.
The composition is especially refined in its simplicity. The solitary figure stands against a largely unadorned background, allowing the distinctive costume and silhouette to dominate visually. The tall black hat and soft neutral garments create a striking graphic balance, while the subtle hand-coloring gives the print an understated elegance well suited to contemporary interiors.
This lithograph displays beautifully framed with a wide ivory mat and dark walnut or black lacquer frame, where the generous margins and minimalist composition create a sophisticated museum-style presentation. It works particularly well in Japandi interiors, studies, libraries, Asian-inspired spaces, or curated gallery walls focused on travel, costume, and ethnographic imagery.
The print is an original antique lithograph, not a reproduction. The piece is sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale.
