Coolie Dwellings – Tandjong-Morawa, Sumatra, Indonesia (Kleingrothe, c.1900)
€ 240
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1900
Mapmaker / artist
C.J. Kleingrothe, Medan, circa 1900
Technique
Photogravure
Sheet size
34 × 45 cm (13.4 × 17.7 in)
Reference
BG-05079-37
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
Very good for its age. Light toning and mild spotting in the wide margins. Image area clean and strong. Clear plate mark visible. No tears. Unmounted and unframed.
About this sheet
Coolie Dwellings – Tandjong-Morawa, Sumatra (Kleingrothe, c.1900)
A striking and historically significant original photogravure by C.J. Kleingrothe, documenting the workers’ barracks on the large plantation estates near Medan, North Sumatra, around 1900. The image shows long rows of laborers’ houses—simple thatched-roof structures aligned beneath towering coconut palms—an iconic visual of the Deli tobacco and plantation industry during the Dutch colonial era.
Kleingrothe, a German photographer based in Medan, is widely considered the most important visual chronicler of Sumatra’s development under European plantation companies. His photographs offer invaluable insight into the architecture, labor conditions, and landscapes shaped by the export economy. Works from this series have become rare and essential primary sources for curators, historians, and collectors in Southeast Asian heritage.
This large-format print retains exceptional detail and tonal richness, highlighting both the beauty of the tropical environment and the stark simplicity of the labor infrastructure that supported one of the world’s most profitable early 20th-century agricultural sectors.
Perfect for collectors of colonial-era photography, industrial heritage, or Southeast Asian history.
Framing Suggestions: A dark wood or teak frame enhances the plantation-era setting. Alternately, a minimalist black frame with an ivory mat creates a refined gallery presentation.
