Items Similar to Verdant Wonders: Exotic Trees and Spices of India in De Bry's 1601 Illustration
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8
Verdant Wonders: Exotic Trees and Spices of India in De Bry's 1601 Illustration
About the Item
Title: "Verdant Wonders: Exotic Trees and Spices of India in De Bry's 1601 Illustration"
Description: This striking 1601 engraving by Theodore de Bry, titled "IDEA LANTOR, ASSA, PIMENTA DEL RABO, TALASSE, MANGOstans,&Picpris," showcases the rich botanical diversity of India, featuring an array of trees and plants highly valued for their culinary and medicinal properties. The Lantor, possibly a variant of a palm, stands tall with its slender trunk and large leaves. The Assa, likely a type of myrrh, and the Pimenta del Rabo, or tail pepper, hint at the spicy treasures that were eagerly sought by traders. The Talasse tree is shown with its broad, sturdy leaves, and the renowned Mangosteen is depicted with its lush, round fruits famed for their sweet, tangy flavor.
These plants, illustrated with such detail and care, were more than just food sources; they were symbols of the exotic abundance of the East Indies, representing wealth, mystery, and the allure of the unknown to the European audience of the time. De Bry’s engravings were a vital link in the chain of knowledge, bringing the wonders of distant lands into the libraries and salons of Europe, igniting imaginations and driving the fervor for exploration and trade.
Translation of the Latin text:
"Lantor or Cognos is the name for the mucilaginous class of Indian trees, whose leaves are of great length, used by Indians in place of paper. Pimenta del Rabo, also known as cubeb, grows on a certain tree: which the Indians hold in such high esteem that they do not hesitate to export them to foreign lands. Also added is the Tamarind tree, known as Assa, and the herb Talasse, celebrated in India: not to mention the fruit of the Mango tree, and the round black pepper produced in the soil, which the inhabitants of Sabang call ‘voctiant’."
The engraving is a page from Part IV of de Bry's "Petits Voyages," which narrates significant expeditions to the East Indies, including those led by Jan Juygen van Linschoten and Cornelis de Houtman between 1595-97, as well as the journey by Jacob van Neck and Wybrandt van Warwijck in 1598-99. These works were not merely artistic endeavors but also ethnographic records, showcasing indigenous peoples, fauna, flora, and the diverse riches of lands like India, Madagascar, and the East Indies.
Though Theodore de Bry began this ambitious project, it was continued posthumously by his family and later completed by his son-in-law, Matthaus Merian, in 1644. This particular engraving, rich in detail and drama, offers a window into the perilous and wondrous experiences of early explorers, and the ways in which these moments were captured and communicated to a European audience hungry for knowledge of the wider world.
- Dimensions:Height: 11.82 in (30 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:Paper,Engraved
- Period:Early 17th Century
- Date of Manufacture:1601
- Condition:The condition of the print is very good, considering its age of over 400 years. Light brownish toning and foxing and some soiling due to handling, mainly around the edges. Please study this image carefully.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 2009
1stDibs seller since 2017
1,959 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Langweer, Netherlands
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Spices of the Tropics: Cinnamon and Cassia in De Bry's 1601 IllustrationLocated in Langweer, NLTitle: "Spices of the Tropics: Cinnamon and Cassia in De Bry's 1601 Illustration" Description: This 1601 engraving by Theodore de Bry offers a detailed look at the spice-bearing tre...Category
Antique Early 17th Century Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Tropical Delights: De Bry's Illustration of Indian Fig and Nut Trees, 1601Located in Langweer, NLThis original 1601 copper engraving by Theodore de Bry is an exquisite representation of the flora found in the landscapes of India during the Age of Discovery. It features the Ficus...Category
Antique Early 17th Century Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Botanical Marvels of India: Bamboo and Durian in De Bry's 1601 Copper EngravingLocated in Langweer, NLThis 1601 engraving by Theodore de Bry, a master engraver and publisher of the late Renaissance period, depicts the flora of India with a remarkable degree of detail and artistry. Th...Category
Antique Early 17th Century Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Tropical Abundance: The Jackfruit and Palm Trees in De Bry's 1601 EngravingLocated in Langweer, NL"Tropical Abundance: The Jackfruit and Palm Trees in De Bry's 1601 Engraving" Description: This remarkable 1601 engraving by Theodore de Bry illustrates the lush vegetation of India...Category
Antique Early 17th Century Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Treasures of the Tropics: Lac, Lancas, and Fagaras in De Bry's 1601 EngravingLocated in Langweer, NLTitle: "Treasures of the Tropics: Lac, Lancas, and Fagaras in De Bry's 1601 Engraving" Description: In this detailed 1601 engraving by Theodore de Bry, a variety of tropical produce...Category
Antique Early 17th Century Prints
MaterialsPaper
- New World Flora: Aloe, Maguey, and Mexican Plants in De Bry's 1601 WorkLocated in Langweer, NLTitle: "New World Flora: Aloe, Maguey, and Mexican Plants in De Bry's 1601 Work" Description: This engraving by Theodore de Bry from 1601 offers a detai...Category
Antique Early 17th Century Prints
MaterialsPaper
You May Also Like
- Vintage Print Illustration of Various Types of Trees, framedLocated in Opole, PLWe present you one of the illustrations from the series printed from a book on various subjects. The graphic is closed in passe-portout and a wooden frame with glass. The price i...Category
20th Century European Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Paris Scene Illustration Lithograph of Place De Concord by Jean DufyBy Jean DufyLocated in Los Angeles, CABeautiful Paris scene illustration lithograph of Place De Concord by French artist Jean Dufy. For the Francophile! Art piece: 13.75" x 10".Category
Vintage 1960s French French Provincial Prints
MaterialsGlass, Wood, Paper
- Aristrocratic Black and White Napoleon Illustration in Antique FrameLocated in Hopewell, NJA fabulous vintage illustration of a seated Napolean in moody black and white, framed in an amazing 19th century giltwood frame with eagle at the top,...Category
Antique 19th Century French Prints
MaterialsGiltwood, Paper
- Original Antique Map of India. C.1780Located in St Annes, LancashireGreat map of India Copper-plate engraving Published C.1780 Three small worm holes to right side of map and one bottom left corner Unframed.Category
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Maps
MaterialsPaper
- Vintage Print Illustration of Antique Objects, walnut frameLocated in Opole, PLWe present you one of the illustrations from the series printed from a book on various subjects. The graphic is closed in passe-portout and a wooden frame with glass. The price ...Category
20th Century European Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Vintage Print Illustration of Old Crafts, Tanning, framedLocated in Opole, PLWe present you this illustration printed from a book with depictions of old crafts – tanning in this case. The graphic is closed in passe-portout and a wooden frame with a glass. ...Category
20th Century European Prints
MaterialsGlass, Wood
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Van Neck
Antique Record Stand
Round Window Used
Jacob 17th
Law Library
Antique Round Window
Antique Round Windows
Antique India Exports
Antique Palm Stand
Antique Food Prints
Large Botanical Illustration
Botanical 17th Century
Antique Botanical Fruit Prints
Antique Black Plant Stand
Petit Jacob
Tall Antique Plant Stand
India Antique Window
Antique Indian Windows