About this sheet
Chinese Costume and Ritual Scenes – Set of Three Ferrario Engravings, Italy 1815
This refined set of three hand-colored copperplate engravings forms part of Giulio Ferrario’s influential early nineteenth-century publication Le Costume Ancien et Moderne, one of the most ambitious illustrated surveys of global cultures, customs, and material traditions produced during the Enlightenment era. Engraved by Luigi Giarre and published in Italy in 1815, the plates combine ethnographic observation, decorative design, and scholarly curiosity, offering European audiences a visual interpretation of Chinese religious practices, ceremonial objects, and social life.
The first plate presents a ritual scene centered around a monumental incense burner, where a robed elder performs ceremonial gestures while an attendant stands nearby. The composition emphasizes spiritual practice and temple ritual, enhanced by the atmospheric depiction of rising incense smoke. The second plate functions as an object study, illustrating various Chinese ritual bronzes and incense vessels arranged in a balanced and symmetrical format. These vessels reflect traditional ceremonial culture and demonstrate the period’s fascination with cataloguing foreign artifacts through visual classification. The third engraving depicts a group of figures within a landscape setting featuring a pagoda, combining costume study with narrative genre imagery that reflects European interpretations of Chinese daily life and social hierarchy.
Together, the three prints provide a cohesive overview of religious symbolism, material culture, and costume within Ferrario’s encyclopedic project. Luigi Giarre’s precise engraving technique and delicate hand coloring unify the set visually, while the varied subjects create a balanced and engaging presentation suitable for collectors interested in Asian subjects, ethnographic illustration, or early travel imagery. As a grouped ensemble, the prints offer strong decorative appeal, particularly when displayed as a vertical or horizontal arrangement, making them ideal for curated interiors or gallery-style installations.
Condition report: Strong plate impressions with visible plate marks. Light age toning and minor handling wear consistent with bound plates. Original embossed blind stamps visible, as issued, with possible light overlap into the image area. Hand coloring remains fresh and well preserved overall.
Framing tips: Consider matching dark walnut or black lacquer frames with warm ivory mats for visual consistency. The set works well aligned in a linear row or as a balanced triptych, emphasizing the scholarly yet decorative character of the engravings.
Technique: Hand-colored copperplate engravings
Maker: Luigi Giarre after Giulio Ferrario, Italy, 1815
Keyword block: Ferrario Le Costume Ancien et Moderne set, Chinese costume engravings, antique Chinese ritual scenes, Luigi Giarre engravings, Chinese incense burner print, Chinese bronze vessels engraving, Chinese pagoda scene antique, ethnographic China prints, 1815 hand colored copperplates, antique Asian decorative prints set, chinoiserie engravings collection, Asian historical costume illustration, early travel illustration China.
