Paasch-Eilanders – Antique Engraving of Easter Island / Rapa Nui Figures, c.1800
€ 210
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1800
Mapmaker / artist
J. Allart (publisher), after S. Kuyper, engraved by J. Portman
Technique
Hand-colored engraving
Sheet size
22.5 × 13 cm (8.9 × 5.1 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13696-28
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 to very good for age. Light toning to wide margins, a few scattered small spots and subtle handling marks. Colors remain vivid and the printed image is clean and well-preserved.
About this sheet
Paasch-Eilanders – Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of Easter Island / Rapa Nui Figures (c.1800)
A striking early 19th-century hand-colored ethnographic engraving titled “Paasch-Eilanders,” depicting two Indigenous Rapa Nui (Easter Island) figures. One holds a European-style bicorn hat—likely a symbolic reference to first contact with explorers—while the other gestures prominently. Their faces are adorned with decorative body paint, and they wear feathered headdresses and traditional cloth coverings.
In the background stands a monumental Moai statue, one of the iconic ancestral figures carved by the Rapa Nui people. Decorative artifacts including a hand-carved club or ceremonial weapon and carved motifs at their feet emphasize the island’s unique cultural identity.
Signed in the plate: “S. Kuyper del.” (artist) and “J. Portman sc.” (engraver). Published by J. Allart in The Netherlands around 1800. A powerful historical document of Pacific exploration and one of the most desirable plates in this ethnographic series due to the recognizable Moai cultural heritage.
Good, consistent with age. Minor edge wear, faint toning to margins, small scattered spots. Image clean and colors remain vivid with excellent detail. Full sheet with generous margins.
Framing Tips: A dark or teak-toned frame pairs beautifully with Pacific subjects. Use a warm, neutral mat to highlight the hand-coloring and cultural details. UV-protective glazing recommended.
