Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

John Webber
Sandwich Islands Canoe (Hawaii): Framed 18th C. Engraving Captain Cook's Journal

1784

About the Item

"A Canoe of the Sandwich Islands, the Rowers Masked" is an engraving created by Charles Grignion, from a drawing by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. It is Plate 65 in the atlas of "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", the official British Admiralty sanctioned journal published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. This famous image of ten Hawaiian rowers transporting a priest who is carrying a feather-covered image of Kukailimoku, the Hawaiian god of war. The priests and paddlers are all wearing gourd masks in their double-hulled canoe with an upright lateen woven sail. Each hull was shaped from a single large Koa log harvested from island rainforests, where they were carved before being transported to the coast. This engraving is presented in a Koa wood frame and a white mat. There are occasional faint spots, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. Koa is the same wood as was used to make the canoe. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. Not only is this amazing wood native to Hawaii, but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. The frame measures 20.75" high, 26.75" wide and 0.88" deep. There are three other engravings listed from the official journal of Captain Cook's 3rd voyage available that are presented in identical Koa wood frames and mat (LU117324682022, LU117324684052, LU117324684062). They would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Hawaii was discovered by Captain Cook (1728-1779) during this voyage. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of Sandwich who, as head of the British Admiralty, authorized the funds necessary to finance the voyage. Captain Cook was killed by natives in Kealakekua Bay on the big island of Hawaii in 1779. His ships the Resolution and Discovery then returned to England. Other notables who were part of this expedition included Captain William Bligh, Cook's sailing master, who would later go down in history as captain of the mutinous crew of the Bounty and George Vancouver who would later explore and chart North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, as well as the province of British Columbia in Canada. Vancouver Island and the city of Vancouver, British Columbia are named for him, as is Vancouver, Washington.
  • Creator:
    John Webber (1751 - 1793, British)
  • Creation Year:
    1784
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20.75 in (52.71 cm)Width: 26.75 in (67.95 cm)Depth: 0.88 in (2.24 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
    1780-1789
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Alamo, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: # 38531stDibs: LU117324682432

More From This Seller

View All
Meissen, Germany : A Large Framed 18th Century Map by Petrus Schenk
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored 18th century map of the Meissen region of Germany, entitled "Geographischer Entwurff Derer Aemmter Meissen als Creys-Procuratur-Schul-und Stiffts-Ammt benebst ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

Theories of Planetary Motion: An 18th C. Framed Celestial Map by Doppelmayr
By Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr 1
Located in Alamo, CA
This 18th century hand-colored copperplate celestial map by Johann Doppelmayr entitled "Theoria Planetarum Primariorum In qua ipsorum motus in Copernican...
Category

Early 18th Century Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

Theories of Planetary Orbits: A Framed 18th C. Celestial Map by Doppelmayr
By Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr 1
Located in Alamo, CA
This 18th century hand-colored copperplate celestial map by Johann Doppelmayr entitled "Astronomia Comparativa in qua Planetarum Primaria Phaenomena" (Co...
Category

Early 18th Century Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

The Orbits of Venus and Mercury: An 18th C. Framed Celestial Map by Doppelmayr
By Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr 1
Located in Alamo, CA
This 18th century hand-colored copperplate celestial map by Johann Doppelmayr entitled "Phænomena Motuum Irregularium quos Planetar inferiores Venus et M...
Category

Early 18th Century Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

Northern Italy: A 16th Century Hand-colored Map by Abraham Ortelius
By Abraham Ortelius
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a framed 16th century hand-colored copperplate map of northern Italy entitled "Veronae Urbis Territorium a Bernardo Bragnolo Descriptium" by Abraham Ortelius from his atlas "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum", which was the first modern atlas of the world, with the first volume published in 1570. This map was part of a subsequent volume, published in Antwerp in 1584. It was based on an earlier map by Bernardo Brognoli. This beautiful map of northern Italy is focussed on Verona and its environs, including Mantua. Lake Garda and the South Tyrol mountains are prominently depicted. There is a very large striking cartouche in the upper left and a decorative distance scale in the lower right. This striking hand-colored map of northern Italy is presented in a gold-colored wood frame and an olive green-colored mat. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. All mounting materials used are archival. The frame measures 21.5" high by 28" wide by 0.75" deep. There is a central vertical fold, as issued, with slight separation of the lower portion of the fold. There are faint spots in the upper and right margins, but the map is otherwise in very good condition. Abraham Ortelius (also known as Ortels, Orthellius, and Wortels) (1527-1598) was a Dutch cartographer, geographer, and cosmographer. He began his career as a map colorist. In 1547 he entered the Antwerp guild of St Luke as an "illuminator of maps". He had an affinity for business from an early age and most of his journeys before 1560, were for business. He was a dealer in antiques, coins, maps, and books. 
His business income allowed him to acquire an extensive collection of medals, coins, and antiques, as well as a large library of books...
Category

16th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

Frankfort, Germany: A 16th Century Hand-colored Map by Braun & Hogenberg
By Franz Hogenberg
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of Frankfort, Germany entitled "Francenbergum, vel ut alij Francoburgum Hassiae Opp" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, from their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne, Germany in 1595. This is an English translation of an excerpt from the original text in the atlas: "Frankenberg or, according to others, Francoburgum, a town in Hesse. Charlemagne vested the town of Frankenberg with many freedoms and privileges, which it still enjoys to this day, and on account of its valiant and victorious soldiers awarded a signet, upon which there formerly appeared a golden castle with a tower, together with the letter F and a golden crown. Frankenberg, seen here from the northeast, lies on a hill above the River Eder. The hillside is covered with fields neatly separated by bushes and fences. Soaring above the town is the massive Liebfrauenkirche, which was modelled on St Elizabeth's church in Marburg. The New Town was founded in 1335 at the foot of the hill (right) and merged with the Old Town as late as 1556. Frankenberg was founded by Conrad of Thuringia in 1233/34 to prevent the archbishops of Mainz from expanding their sphere of influence...
Category

16th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

You May Also Like

Girders (rainy night view of artist's former studio in Washington Heights
By Craig McPherson
Located in New Orleans, LA
"Griders" is Craig McPherson's rainy night scene showing the view from his former studio in Washington Heights in NYC. The image is the companion pi...
Category

1980s Contemporary Landscape Prints

Materials

Mezzotint

Mont et Mervale (Mountains and Wonder)
By Christine Ravaux
Located in New Orleans, LA
Born in Charleroi, Belgium, Christine Ravaux is an artist who mirrors her surroundings in the mezzotints she creates. She has portrayed the black hills that dot the landscape of the ...
Category

1990s Contemporary Landscape Prints

Materials

Mezzotint, Aquatint

Carte Particular Des Costes De Bretagne Depuis le Cap de Frehel, Jusques a Perros
By Pierre Mortier
Located in Paonia, CO
Carte Particulaire Des Costes De Bretagne Depuis Le Cap de Frehel, Jusques a Perros, & L’Isle Tome. This large sea scale chart shows part of the northwestern co...
Category

1690s Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

Carte Particuliere Des Coste De Bretagne qui Comprend Morlaix
By Pierre Mortier
Located in Paonia, CO
Carte Particuliere Des Costes De Bretagne qui Comprend Morlaix, Saint Paul de Leon, les Sept Isles, et L’Isle. Faite par ordre Exprez Du Roy de France is from the collection of ch...
Category

1690s Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

England Map of the County of Southampton from an Actual Survey
Located in Paonia, CO
Cartographers Christopher (1786-1855) and John (1791-1867) Greenwood were surveyors from Yorkshire, who undertook an ambitious project to produce a series of large-scale maps of the counties of England, Wales and Scotland.The maps represent a remarkable and impressive surveying achievement forming an important record of the counties depicted. In the years 1817-1832 the Greenwood brothers published the Atlas of The Counties of England from an Actual Survey. This Atlas was finely drafted and engraved and decorated with large vignettes of prominent buildings of the county. This map of Southampton County is beautifully hand colored and is in very good condition. There is a vignette of Winchester Cathedral...
Category

19th Century Other Art Style Landscape Prints

Materials

Engraving

Map of the County of Buckingham From an Actual Survey
Located in Paonia, CO
Cartographers Christopher (1786-1855) and John (1791-1867) Greenwood were surveyors from Yorkshire, who undertook an ambitious project to produce a series of large-scale maps of the counties of England, Wales and Scotland.The maps represent a remarkable and impressive surveying achievement forming an important record of the counties depicted. In the years 1817-1832 the Greenwood brothers published the Atlas of The Counties of England from an Actual Survey. This Atlas was finely drafted and engraved and decorated with large vignettes of prominent buildings of the county. This map of Buckingham County is beautifully hand colored and is in very good condition. There is a vignette of Stowe House...
Category

19th Century Other Art Style More Prints

Materials

Engraving

Recently Viewed

View All