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Detailed Botanical Engraving of the Coffee Plant from Histoire Naturelle, c.1780
About the Item
This engraving titled "Histoire Naturelle: le café" is a detailed botanical illustration, part of an 18th or 19th-century natural history text or compendium.
It depicts the coffee plant (Coffea) in various stages of growth, focusing on both the plant itself and its distinct parts, such as the leaves, flowers, and seeds. The meticulous rendering and detailed labeling of parts of the plant suggest that the engraving was intended for scientific study, likely as an educational tool in botany.
Description: The engraving is divided into sections that depict different aspects of the coffee plant:
- Main Tree: The central image shows a mature coffee plant with its branching structure and characteristic oval leaves. The detailed veining and texture of the leaves are accurately captured.
- Leaf Detail (A): To the left, a large, isolated leaf is presented, highlighting its intricate veining and shape. This isolated view allows for a close study of the leaf’s structure.
- Flower (C): Below the tree, we see several views of the coffee plant’s flower, showing it in various stages of blooming. The flower is shown from different angles, including its stamen and pistil.
- Coffee Beans (F-I): The engraving includes illustrations of the coffee fruit and seeds at various stages. There are views of the coffee bean inside the fruit, with the outer fruit removed, showing both the whole bean and the cross-section.
The illustration is labeled with letters to correspond to each botanical feature, helping the viewer identify different aspects of the plant, from leaves and flowers to fruit and seeds.
Maker: While the exact artist is not listed in the image, this style of scientific illustration is typical of 18th and 19th-century natural history engravings, often made by botanists and engravers collaborating to document plant species for scientific study. The labeling as "Histoire Naturelle" suggests it may be part of a broader work of natural history, similar to the botanical works by figures like Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, or Carl Linnaeus, where illustrations were integral in teaching botany.
This engraving would have been made using copperplate engraving, a technique that allows for fine lines and detailed shading, typical of scientific illustrations from this period.
What It Shows: The engraving illustrates the coffee plant with a focus on its key botanical characteristics. The detailed rendering of leaves, flowers, and fruit provides a comprehensive visual reference for botanists and naturalists. The illustration is both artistic and scientific, serving as a valuable tool for identifying and studying the coffee plant, which was (and remains) of significant economic and cultural importance. The fact that the plant's different stages are meticulously depicted suggests the intent was to document it in a way that could be used in classification, identification, or study.
This type of engraving was common in natural history books, which aimed to educate readers about the natural world by offering accurate, scientifically precise visual aids.
- Dimensions:Height: 10.04 in (25.5 cm)Width: 7.52 in (19.1 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:Paper,Engraved
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1780
- Condition:Condition: good, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-13748-1171stDibs: LU3054341522912
About the Seller
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