Items Similar to Marine Elegance: Exquisite 19th-Century Hand-Colored Mollusk Illustrations
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12
Marine Elegance: Exquisite 19th-Century Hand-Colored Mollusk Illustrations
About the Item
A pair of original atnique hand-colored engravings or lithographs depicting various mollusk species. They are from a work by the notable figure C. D'Orbigny's "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published 1849. These prints are finely detailed, showcasing the intricate beauty of marine life and representing a fusion of science and art. They have aesthetic and educational value, show Intricate detailing and vibrant colors and therefore perfect for vintage decor.
In the two images, there are several species of marine mollusks depicted. Here's an identification and description of each, based on the labels visible in the images:
**First Image:**
1. **Patella vulgata** – Commonly known as the common limpet, a marine gastropod with a distinctive conical shell found clinging to rocks in the intertidal zone.
2. **Fissurella nimbosa** – Also known as the keyhole limpet, characterized by a shell with a top hole, resembling a volcanic crater.
3. **Calyptraea sinensis** – Often called the Chinese hat snail, this species has a shell that looks like an inverted cone, similar to a small hat.
4. **Pleurotomaria quoyana** – This is a slit snail, recognized by the slit-like opening along the shell's spiral.
5. **Dentalium elephantinum** – Known as the elephant's tusk shell, this species has a long, straight, and tusk-like shell.
6. **Chiton squamosus** – This is a type of chiton, a mollusk with a shell composed of eight separate shell plates or valves.
**Second Image:**
1. **Lima squamosa** – The scaly file clam, a bivalve with a delicate, fan-like shell structure.
2. **Spondylus exoctus** – Often referred to as spiny oysters, these bivalves have a shell with spines or ridges.
3. **Ostrea folium** – This species, the leaf oyster, has a bivalve shell resembling a leaf.
4. **Pecten tigris** – Known as the tiger scallop, it has a distinct, fan-shaped shell with stripes or patterns similar to a tiger's fur.
The images showcase a variety of marine mollusks, each with unique adaptations. The limpets and keyhole limpets have shells designed to adhere to rocky surfaces, while the Chinese hat snail and slit snail have shells that protect them from predators. The elephant's tusk shell has a shape that allows it to burrow into soft substrates, and the chiton's multi-plated shell provides flexibility and protection.
Bivalves like the scaly file clam, spiny oyster, leaf oyster, and tiger scallop have two-part shells connected by a hinge and are known for their filter-feeding capabilities. The diversity in shell morphology, from the simple elegance of the limpet to the ornate complexity of the scallop, reflects the wide range of habitats and ecological niches these mollusks occupy.
The artistry of these prints not only serves scientific documentation but also captures the aesthetic beauty of these sea creatures, making them appealing to both scientific and artistic communities.
- Dimensions:Height: 9.65 in (24.5 cm)Width: 6.11 in (15.5 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1849
- Condition:Good. Vibrant colors. Some edges a bit rough, but leaving enough space for matting or framing these decorative prints. Study the images 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
1,946 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
- Mollusk Elegance: Original 19th-Century Scientific IllustrationsLocated in Langweer, NLThe collage features a curated selection of marine gastropods and bivalves from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle." Each image is a detailed, hand-colored engraving th...Category
Antique 1840s Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Marine Elegance: A 19th Century Mosaic of Mollusk Diversity, 1845Located in Langweer, NLThe engravings depict a variety of marine organisms, specifically mollusks, which include both gastropods and bivalves. The details for the three prints provided are as follows: 1. ...Category
Antique 1840s Prints
MaterialsPaper
- A Symphony of Botanical Elegance: 19th-Century Colored Foliage IllustrationsLocated in Langweer, NLThe prints are from "Les Plantes à Feuillage Coloré," which translates to "The Plants with Colored Foliage," and it appears to be the second volume, published in Paris in 1880 with J...Category
Antique 1880s Prints
MaterialsPaper
- A Treasury of Molluscs: 19th Century Hand-Colored IllustrationsLocated in Langweer, NLThe collage of the three prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849 showcases a variety of mollusc species. Description: This collage unites a ...Category
Antique 1840s Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Marine Splendor: Hand-Colored Zoophytes of the 19th CenturyLocated in Langweer, NLA collage of two original antique prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849. Description: This exquisite collage presents a selection of marine invertebrates, or zoophytes, from the celebrated "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle". These detailed illustrations depict the intricate beauty and diversity of coral-like organisms, showcasing the scientific and artistic achievements of the 19th century. The delicate hand-coloring highlights the natural elegance of these sea creatures, making the prints both a scientific document and a piece of art. The species depicted in the prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849, are as follows: **First Print:** 1. **Veretillum cynomorium** - Commonly known as the "sea pen," this species resembles a quill pen, hence the name. It's a type of soft coral in the order Pennatulacea. 2. **Actinia equina** - This is the common sea anemone, often found on rocky shores. 2.2 **Actinia equina (contracted)** - The same species, shown in a contracted state, which sea anemones can do when disturbed or when they are conserving moisture during low tide. **Second Print:** 1. **Flustra foliacea** - Also known as the "hornwrack," a type of bryozoan, which is a colonial organism...Category
Antique 1840s Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Marine Mollusk Masterpieces: Artistry from the Depths, Hand-Colored in 1849Located in Langweer, NLTitle: "Marine Mollusk Masterpieces: Artistry from the Depths" This collection of hand-colored engravings, meticulously crafted, offers a window into the diverse world of marine mol...Category
Antique 1840s Prints
MaterialsPaper
You May Also Like
- Set of Six 19th Century Hand-Colored Marine Biology PrintsLocated in Rio Vista, CAFascinating set of six 19th century steel engraved etchings or prints of marine biology species. Five of the six prints were engraved by William Lizars London, England with signature...Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Prints
MaterialsGiltwood, Paper
- Pair of 19th Century Hand Colored Engravings, FramedLocated in Lambertville, NJA pair of 19th century hand colored engravings titled Anguienus DUX, Indorum Rex. (Horseman on horse and the second Romanus Castrorum Praefectus (the commander of the camp). Framed i...Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Prints
MaterialsGiltwood
- 19th Century Pair of Framed Italian Hand Colored EngravingsLocated in San Francisco, CA19th century pair of framed Italian hand colored engravings One engraving depicts a scene from Florence, Italy The other depicts a sc...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Early 19th Century Hand-Colored Portrait Engraving of a GentlemanLocated in Brooklyn, NYA fine portrait miniature of a man with long tousled hair and blue high-collared frock coat. The image is encased by parcel-gilt and black lacquered glass with a thick giltwood shado...Category
Antique 1810s German Neoclassical Prints
MaterialsGiltwood, Laid Paper
- Italian 19th Century Big Size Florence Architectural Hand-Colored PrintLocated in Scandicci, FlorenceA rare extra-large print, printed on engraving paper with an antique star press and watercolored by hand representing an antique capital. The capital's...Category
Antique 1840s Italian Neoclassical Prints
MaterialsPaper
- Italian 19th Century Big Size Florence Architectural Hand-Colored PrintLocated in Scandicci, Florence"Porta nel Vestibolo dell'antica Università dei Lanaioli - Studio al Vero del Capitello" A rare extra-large print, printed on engraving paper with an antique star press and watercolored by hand representing an antique capital...Category
Antique 1840s Italian Neoclassical Prints
MaterialsPaper
