Antique Japanese Rooster and Hen Print: Symbolic Beauty, 19th Century

Title: Japanese Rooster Drum Stand: Antique Lithograph, 1880s Description: This detailed lithograph from the 1880s features an exquisite depiction of...

The Elegant Golden Spangled Hamburg Chicken A Rare 19th Century Poultry Lithograph This exquisite 19th century chromolithograph features a pair of Golden Spangled Hamburg chickens, an elegant and highly regarded breed known for its striking plumage, graceful build, and excellent egg laying capabilities. The print, titled Goudlaken Hamburgers, originates from Geïllustreerd Hoenderboek, an Illustrated Poultry Book published in 1888 by Elsevier. Compiled by Julius Volschau and adapted for Dutch readers by Dr. A. C. Oudemans Jzn., this book provided a comprehensive guide to poultry breeding, highlighting both practical and ornamental breeds that were highly valued in the 19th century. Hamburg chickens are one of the oldest known domesticated poultry breeds, with records tracing them back to at least the 14th century. They were particularly popular in the Netherlands, Germany, and England due to their striking feather patterns and exceptional egg laying abilities. The Golden Spangled Hamburg, as depicted in this lithograph, is a particularly eye catching variety, featuring a rich golden brown base color accented with bold black spangling. The rooster stands tall with its flowing tail feathers and proud posture, while the hen, slightly smaller, displays the same intricate feather pattern in a more compact form. This lithograph was created using chromolithography, a meticulous 19th century printing technique that allowed for vibrant and finely detailed illustrations. The artwork is based on an original drawing by Christian Förster, a skilled animal illustrator of the time. Chromolithographs were produced by layering multiple colors, each applied with a separate stone plate, ensuring depth and realism in the final print. The detailed feather patterning and the warm golden hues in this print highlight the craftsmanship involved in this artistic technique. Condition Summary The print remains in good condition, with well preserved colors and sharp details. Some minor age related toning and visible foxing spots are present along the edges, which is common in lithographs of this period. The paper remains stable, with slight signs of wear, making this an excellent collectible piece for antique poultry print...

Antique Rooster Portrait Prosper Alphonse Isaac (France, 1858-1924) Woodblock Print circa 1910 9 x 7 1/8 (15 1/4 x 17 frame) inches The excellent book "The Great Wave: The Influence of Japanese Woodcuts on French Prints" which was an exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1974, recounts the phenomenal "cult of Japan" in late nineteenth-century France and reveals through direct comparisons its particular impact on the graphic work of Manet, Degas, Cassatt, Bonnard, Vuillard, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Gauguin. This print directly relates to the discovery of Japanese art most notably through the woodblock prints which found their way to the West oftentimes as stuffing or packing materials from consumer goods that were being imported to the West at the end of the 19th century. Prosper-Alphonse Isaac was born in a well-to-do family. This gave him the means not only of leaving his native Calais to pursue a career as an artist in Paris, but also the means to acquire art. Isaac was particularly drawn to Japanese arts, which he collected avidly. Many of the objects he bought were eventually given to museums. As a printmaker Isaac started drawing seascapes in dry point, but eventually moved on to become one of only a handful of artists versed in color woodcut techniques in France. His compositions, generally small in scale, are heavily influenced by the arts of Japan. He printed small editions of these works. Aside from this artistic activity, Isaac was also an active textile decorator. "This mark, which he borrows from Hokusaï and Totoya Hokkeï...

Mineral pigments on gold. Not signed, by Baikei Hitsu.