Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Ceremonial Japanese Ships on River – Hand-Colored Print from 18th Century

About the Item

Boats in this engraving are intended to represent Japanese ships, particularly ceremonial or diplomatic vessels from the Edo period—but as interpreted by European artists of the late 18th century. Here's why that interpretation holds weight: Visual Clues Supporting a Japanese Context: 1. Ornamentation and structure: The boats in the lower scene especially feature highly decorative canopies, banners, and curved prows, which resemble Japanese yakatabune (pleasure barges) or ships used in formal processions. 2. Flags and symbols: While the flags are stylized, the one with what appears to be a mon (crest) flanked by floral or sunburst motifs could be a Westernized take on a daimyō or shogunate crest. The European artists often approximated these without total accuracy. 3. Landscape elements: The hilly, lush terrain with closely clustered buildings beside water could resemble Japanese river towns or even views around inland seas like the Seto Inland Sea (Setonaikai), though again, this is likely filtered through a European lens. 4. Historical context: European publications of the late 18th century, especially encyclopedic works like Bertuch’s *Bilderbuch für Kinder*, frequently included exoticized or romanticized depictions of Asian cultures, especially Japan, which was still very mysterious to many Europeans due to its closed borders during the Edo period (sakoku). Artists often worked from travelers’ accounts, maps, and second-hand sketches. Why it may not be accurate but still Japanese-inspired: - The costumes and faces of the figures on the boat look distinctly European, which might reflect either: - European delegates visiting Japan (like the Dutch VOC envoys to Dejima), or - Artistic license by a European illustrator unfamiliar with accurate Japanese attire. - The flags and decorations are hybrid in style—some elements resemble European heraldry, while others have a hint of Asian symbolism. That blending was very common in Enlightenment-era didactic illustrations. Conclusion: This engraving depicts Japanese ships—or a European fantasy of Japanese ceremonial boats—as seen from a late 18th-century European perspective. This interpretation fits perfectly with the goals of Bertuch’s Bilderbuch für Kinder, which sought to visually educate European children about the wider world, often through imaginative renderings.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 9.45 in (24 cm)Width: 7.68 in (19.5 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Paper,Engraved
  • Period:
    1790-1799
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1790
  • Condition:
    Fair condition with vibrant hand-coloring. Minor age toning at margins, slight edge wear from prior binding. No major tears or stains. A well-preserved original engraving from the late 18th to early 19th century.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-043411stDibs: LU3054344553122

More From This Seller

View All
Hand-Colored 18th-Century Engraving of Exotic Quadrupeds from Natural History
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: 1805 Hand-Colored Engraving of Exotic Quadrupeds from F.J. Bertuch's Work Description: This hand-colored engraving, created in 1805, originates from Friedrich Justin Bertuc...
Category

Antique Early 1800s Prints

Materials

Paper

Hand-Colored 18th-Century Engraving of Exotic Quadrupeds from Natural History

Hand-Colored 18th-Century Engraving of Exotic Quadrupeds from Natural History

$149
Elegant Costumes of 18th-Century Peru: Hand-Colored Engraving from Bertuch, 1805
Located in Langweer, NL
Costumes of Peru, 18th Century: Hand-Colored Engraving from Bertuch’s *Bilderbuch für Kinder This detailed 19th-century hand-colored copperplate engraving illustrates traditional co...
Category

Antique Early 1800s Prints

Materials

Paper

Elegant Costumes of 18th-Century Peru: Hand-Colored Engraving from Bertuch, 1805

Elegant Costumes of 18th-Century Peru: Hand-Colored Engraving from Bertuch, 1805

$126
Exotic Parrots from the 18th Century: Hand-Colored Engraving by Robert Benard
Located in Langweer, NL
This beautiful hand-colored engraving is a work by Robert Benard (1734-1786), published around 1790, and was part of the *Encyclopédie Méthodique*, a monumental work of the Enlightenment period. The engraving is a study of exotic parrots, showcasing fine details with the scientific curiosity of the time. Each bird is numbered and named in French, revealing their interest as species from various regions of the world. Birds Depicted (Translation and Descriptions): 1. Fig. 1: Le Kakatave des Philippines...
Category

Antique 1790s Prints

Materials

Paper

Exotic Parrots from the 18th Century: Hand-Colored Engraving by Robert Benard

Exotic Parrots from the 18th Century: Hand-Colored Engraving by Robert Benard

$119 Sale Price
20% Off
Bahama Finch Engraving by J.M. Seligmann, Hand-Colored Bird Print, 18th century
Located in Langweer, NL
Bahama Finch Engraving by J.M. Seligmann after George Edwards, Hand-Colored, 18th Century This exquisite 18th-century hand-colored engraving features the Bahama Finch, a vibrant b...
Category

Antique 1770s Prints

Materials

Paper

Bahama Finch Engraving by J.M. Seligmann, Hand-Colored Bird Print, 18th century

Bahama Finch Engraving by J.M. Seligmann, Hand-Colored Bird Print, 18th century

$619
Antique Japanese Treasure Ship Print: Takarabune on the Waves, 19th Century
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Japanese Treasure Ship Print: Takarabune on the Waves, 19th Century This magnificent 19th-century Japanese print features the iconic Takarabune, or Treasure Ship, sailing th...
Category

Antique 1880s Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Japanese Treasure Ship Print: Takarabune on the Waves, 19th Century

Antique Japanese Treasure Ship Print: Takarabune on the Waves, 19th Century

$275
Vivid Lepidoptera: Hand-Colored 18th-Century Butterfly and Moth Studies
Located in Langweer, NL
This exquisite hand-colored copperplate engraving from Friedrich Johann Bertuch's renowned "Bilderbuch für Kinder" (Picture Book for Children), published in Weimar in 1805, presents ...
Category

Antique Early 1800s Prints

Materials

Paper

Vivid Lepidoptera: Hand-Colored 18th-Century Butterfly and Moth Studies

Vivid Lepidoptera: Hand-Colored 18th-Century Butterfly and Moth Studies

$149

You May Also Like

18th Century Hand-Colored Botanical Prints, P.J. Buchoz, 1776
By Pierre Joseph Buchoz
Located in Richmond, London
A set of six of exceptional quality 18th century hand-colored engravings Buchoz, Pierre Joseph. Collection précieuse et enluminée des fleurs les plus belles et les plus curieuses, qu...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Prints

Materials

Paper, Paint

18th Century Hand-Colored Botanical Prints, P.J. Buchoz, 1776

18th Century Hand-Colored Botanical Prints, P.J. Buchoz, 1776

$9,387 / set
Romantic 18th Century Italian Hand Colored Engraving
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A beautiful early hand colored engraving of an ethereal female face adorned in head wreath.
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Prints

Materials

Paper

Romantic 18th Century Italian Hand Colored Engraving

Romantic 18th Century Italian Hand Colored Engraving

$2,100
18th Century Balthasar Frederich Lazelt Colored Engraving Print
Located in Kingston, NY
18th-century view of Lower Manhattan Harbor New York Entrance by Balthasar Frederic Lazelt colored engraving of New York's original harbor landings filled with ships and commerce, 17...
Category

Antique 18th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

18th Century Balthasar Frederich Lazelt Colored Engraving Print

18th Century Balthasar Frederich Lazelt Colored Engraving Print

$1,500 / set
19th Century Japanese Woodblock Print Depicting a Ceremonial Tassel and Fan
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Japanese woodblock print from the 19th century depicting a ceremonial tassel. Created in Japan during the 19th century, this woodblock print attracts our attention with it...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper

19th Century Japanese Woodblock Print Depicting a Ceremonial Tassel and Fan

19th Century Japanese Woodblock Print Depicting a Ceremonial Tassel and Fan

$550
18th Century Botanical Seaweed Print from Natural Curiosities
By Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, Claude Aubriet
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning 18th century colored botanical study print after Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (French 1656-1708) of Fucus algae seaweed sourced from "Elements de Botanique", printed in 1797....
Category

20th Century American Victorian Prints

Materials

Plexiglass, Wood, Paper

18th Century Botanical Seaweed Print from Natural Curiosities

18th Century Botanical Seaweed Print from Natural Curiosities

$2,200 Sale Price
21% Off
J. Kip and L. Knyff 18th Century Hand Colored Engravings, Set of 4
By Johannes Kip
Located in North Palm Beach, FL
Set of four antique hand-colored engravings. "Britannia Illustrata," the publication in which these prints originally appeared, was one of the most important topographical works of t...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English Baroque Prints

Materials

Paper

J. Kip and L. Knyff 18th Century Hand Colored Engravings, Set of 4

J. Kip and L. Knyff 18th Century Hand Colored Engravings, Set of 4

$6,060 / set

Recently Viewed

View All