Sports & Leisure · 20th century
€ 210
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good antique condition. Light toning consistent with age. Minor edge wear and faint handling marks. No tears or losses. Image area clean and well preserved. Suitable for immediate framing.
Etruscan Antiquity Plate with Warriors, Banquet and Dancers, Wasmuth c.1910
This original early 20th-century plate presents a refined study of Etruscan antiquity, published by Ernst Wasmuth A.G. in Berlin around 1910. The sheet illustrates three horizontal friezes inspired by classical Etruscan wall paintings and ceramics. The top register depicts warriors and a mounted soldier carrying oval shields, spears and decorated crests, reflecting the distinctive martial style of early Italic cultures. Below, a banquet scene shows reclining figures enjoying food, music and conversation, echoing the well-known traditions of Etruscan feasting culture. The bottom frieze features dancers and musicians framed by stylized foliage, capturing the rhythm and movement characteristic of surviving Etruscan tomb frescoes.
The print is executed in a clean linear style with soft blue tinting, characteristic of Max Tilke’s archaeological illustration work for the Wasmuth series. These plates were produced for architects, scholars and artists as accurate visual references to ancient dress, ritual and daily life, and they remain highly collectible for their clarity and historical value.
The light cream paper has naturally aged to a warm tone, enhancing the classical aesthetic while preserving the crispness of the line work. This plate works beautifully as a single framed artwork or paired with other antiquity studies from the same series. It brings an elegant, scholarly accent to interiors with neoclassical, Mediterranean, or minimalist sensibilities.
Condition report:
Good antique condition. Light toning consistent with age. Minor edge wear and faint handling marks. No tears or losses. Image area clean and well preserved. Suitable for immediate framing.
Framing suggestions:
A black, dark wood, or antique gold frame complements the classical theme. A warm off-white, stone, or light beige mat enhances the soft blue tones. Museum glass is recommended for clarity and UV protection.
Technique: Lithographic plate print
Maker: Ernst Wasmuth A.G., Berlin, c.1910
