Travel & Transport · 19th century
€ 320
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good impression with strong plate marks on laid paper. Some typical age toning and light foxing near the margins. Original centerfold as issued. Blank verso. Suitable for framing.
Chauderie and Pagotin Temples, India – Sonnerat Voyage Engraving, 1806
This antique copperplate engraving titled "I. Chauderie. II. Pagotin." is plate number 2 from Pierre Sonnerat's 'Collection de Planches pour servir au Voyage aux Indes Orientales et à la Chine', printed in Paris by Dentu in 1806 (Second edition). It forms part of the visual documentation accompanying Sonnerat’s exploration of India and China, offering a rare European perspective on South Asian religious architecture and daily life in the 18th century.
The engraving is a detailed depiction of two structures associated with Indian temple complexes. On the left (marked I), we see the "Chauderie," a building resembling a hall or pavilion with a distinctive roofline and a series of arched columns. In the foreground, two figures, possibly temple workers or pilgrims, are accompanied by an oxen-drawn cart, engaged in transporting goods or offerings. On the right (marked II), the "Pagotin" refers to a small shrine or temple building, square in plan, featuring an ornate domed roof topped with a finial and flanked by sculptural figures of sacred animals. The entrance is richly adorned and leads to an inner sanctum housing a deity, likely a representation of Ganesha, seated and holding attributes.
This scene is both architectural and ethnographic, illustrating not just the buildings but also the cultural practices around them. The engraver has taken care to reproduce with precision the architectural elements, including roof details, temple iconography, and regional construction styles, while also capturing the texture of human activity.
Sonnerat (1748–1814), a French naturalist and explorer, traveled extensively through India and Southeast Asia. His published voyages, particularly those from the 1770s, became important sources of European knowledge about Asian civilizations. The engravings prepared for his works are especially prized for their stylistic clarity and documentary value.
Condition:
Good impression with strong plate marks on laid paper. Some typical age toning and light foxing near the margins. Original centerfold as issued. Blank verso. Suitable for framing.
Framing suggestion:
A dark wood or antique gilt frame paired with an off-white or light cream archival mat would enhance the historic character of the engraving. A wide mat border will allow the plate title and numbering to remain visible, reinforcing its provenance and documentary value.
