pirals of the Sea: Artistic Renderings of 19th Century Gastropods, 1845
€ 180
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1845
Sheet size
26.5 × 17 cm (10.4 × 6.7 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13261-152
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. Moderate offsetting and a few light brownish spots outside the image. Aged paper with typically warm, yellowish-brown hue. Please review the images for further condition details.
About this sheet
This print from Pierre Auguste Joseph Drapiez's 'Dictionnaire Classique des Sciences Naturelles' illustrates three types of sea snails, each rendered with meticulous attention to detail:
1. Casque Bézoard (Cassis glauca): This is likely a depiction of a helmet shell, characterized by its thick, heavy shell with a broad lip, often used for carving and ornamentation.
2. Harpe Ventrue (Harpa ventricosa): Known as the ventricose harp, it is a tropical sea snail with a distinctively ridged and colorful shell, resembling the strings of a harp.
3. Buccin Écaille (Buccinum testudineum): This could be a whelk, a type of sea snail with a spiraled shell, often featuring a patterned surface that resembles the scales of a tortoise.
The print itself is a hand-colored engraving, a common method of scientific illustration in the 19th century, which allowed for the detailed and accurate representation of natural specimens. These images were not only scientific tools but also works of art, combining precision and aesthetics to educate and fascinate.
