East Indies · 19th century
€ 440
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good for age. Soft toning to margins, faint scattered foxing, image areas clean and strong. Wide original margins intact. No tears or repairs.
Set of 3 Antique Photogravures of Sumatra Plantations — Deli, Medan Region (c.1900)
A fine set of three original photogravures documenting plantation life in North Sumatra around 1900, produced by renowned photographer C.J. Kleingrothe in Medan and printed by J.B. Obernetter in Munich. These works provide a rare visual record of the Dutch Deli tobacco and coffee plantation region at the height of its global agricultural influence.
Each photogravure features a different plantation landscape near Medan:
• A quiet dirt road cutting through a plantation forest, likely part of an early rubber or hybrid planting estate in the Deli region.
• The residence of an estate manager — a large colonial villa surrounded by palm gardens — representing the administrative heart of a major plantation operation. Manager’s house in Soengei-Krio estate, Deli
• A sweeping hillside coffee plantation, complete with irrigation canal infrastructure that illustrates the scale and precision involved in export-based agricultural production at the time.
These photographs are of significant documentary importance. Kleingrothe was the foremost visual chronicler of Sumatra’s plantation economy, capturing both the expansiveness of colonial estates and the changing landscape brought on by tropical agriculture. His prints are increasingly collected for their historical value relating to Southeast Asia, industrial heritage, and early 20th-century photography.
A beautiful grouping for interior display — ideal for collectors with interests in Indonesia, plantations, agricultural history, or early photographic printing techniques. Ready to frame and impressive as a unified wall presentation.
Condition:
Very good for age. Soft toning to margins, faint scattered foxing, image areas clean and strong. Wide original margins intact. No tears or repairs.
Framing Tips:
Pair with warm toned or natural wood frames to complement the earthy photogravure palette. Single mat with generous borders recommended to preserve the original mount space.
Technique: Photogravure
Maker: C.J. Kleingrothe (Medan) / J.B. Obernetter (Munich), c.1900
