Upper Austrian Peasant Couple, 1626 – Historic Costume Prints, Berlin 1877

€ 280

Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)

Date: 1626
Mapmaker / artist: Blätter für Kostümkunde, Verlag von Franz Lipperheide, Berlin, 1877
Technique: Hand-colored engraving
Sheet size: 27.5 × 20.3 cm (10.8 × 8.0 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-14069-59 & BG-14069-61

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 condition for age. Light, even age-related toning and minor spotting, mainly in the margins. Hand coloring remains clear and well preserved. No major tears or losses observed.

About this sheet

Upper Austrian Peasant Couple, 1626 – Historic Costume Prints, Berlin 1877

This matched pair of hand-colored costume prints depicts a peasant woman and man from Upper Austria (Oberösterreich), shown in historically accurate dress dating to the time of the Austrian Peasants’ War of 1626. While the costumes represent the early 17th century, the prints themselves were published in 1877 as part of the influential German periodical Blätter für Kostümkunde, issued in Berlin by Franz Lipperheide.

Each figure is presented individually but conceived as a complementary pair. The woman is shown frontally, wearing a dark bodice, pleated skirt, white apron, and prominent ruff collar, holding domestic objects that emphasize everyday rural life. The man is depicted outdoors, leaning on a long weapon or staff, dressed in wide trousers, doublet, stockings, and hat, suggesting both agrarian identity and the social unrest of the period. Together, the images form a visually balanced and historically evocative pair.

Blätter für Kostümkunde was one of the most important 19th-century publications devoted to the study of historical dress and regional costume. Under Franz Lipperheide’s direction, the series combined scholarly research with high-quality illustration, making it an essential reference for artists, historians, and collectors. Prints from this publication are admired today for their accuracy, clarity, and strong decorative appeal.

The restrained hand coloring, limited palette, and clean backgrounds give these prints a timeless graphic quality. As a pair, they work particularly well in studies, libraries, hallways, or interiors with an interest in history, folklore, or European cultural heritage.

Condition report:
Good condition for age. Light, even age-related toning and minor spotting, mainly in the margins. Hand coloring remains clear and well preserved. No major tears or losses observed.

Framing tips:
Frame as a matched pair with generous off-white or soft cream mats. Dark wood, walnut, or understated black frames complement the historic character and enhance contrast.