Items Similar to Decorative Set of Three Antique Fish Prints - Ornamental History Prints, ca.1770
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
Decorative Set of Three Antique Fish Prints - Ornamental History Prints, ca.1770
$394.98per set
£293.48per set
€330per set
CA$541.05per set
A$590.25per set
CHF 313.06per set
MX$7,111.22per set
NOK 3,973.32per set
SEK 3,637.68per set
DKK 2,513.90per set
About the Item
Set of Three Engravings of Fish from Diderot
d’Alembert’s Encyclopédie, ca. 1770
A striking set of three copperplate engravings from Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert’s monumental 'Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers', published in folio format in Paris around 1770. This encyclopedic project, one of the great intellectual achievements of the Enlightenment, aimed to gather and disseminate all available knowledge of the sciences, arts, and natural history.
The plates are taken from the 'Histoire naturelle. Suite du règne animal', specifically the ichthyological section, which depicted both familiar and exotic fish species based on contemporary descriptions and traveler accounts. The engravings show an extraordinary range of forms, from recognizable species such as the turbot, skate, and sawfish to the more curious and fantastical renderings of the pufferfish and hammerhead.
Each engraving demonstrates the Enlightenment’s dual ambition of scientific accuracy and artistic refinement. The engravers employed subtle shading and linework to convey textures of scales, fins, and unusual body shapes. While some representations are naturalistically correct, others reflect the imaginative interpretations of an era in which explorers’ reports were not always consistent, resulting in depictions that today appear both scientific and surreal.
Together, these three folio sheets form an impressive ensemble, perfectly capturing the intellectual and artistic spirit of 18th-century natural history. They are not only valuable as decorative prints but also as historical documents, representing the ambition of Diderot and d’Alembert to democratize knowledge and classify the natural world. For collectors of Enlightenment scientific works, prints from the *Encyclopédie* are among the most iconic and sought-after.
Condition report: Good condition with strong plate impressions and visible platemarks. Light age toning, minor foxing, and handling wear consistent with age. Unframed, offered as three separate sheets.
Framing tips: These folio engravings are particularly effective when displayed as a unified set. Consider dark wood or black frames with wide ivory mounts to emphasize the fine engraving lines. For an elegant accent, use double matting with a subtle blue or green inner border to echo the marine theme. Displayed side by side, they form a commanding decorative and scholarly statement.
Technique: Copperplate engraving
Maker: Denis Diderot
Jean le Rond d’Alembert, Paris, ca. 1770
- Dimensions:Height: 15.36 in (39 cm)Width: 9.85 in (25 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
- Sold As:Set of 3
- Materials and Techniques:Paper,Engraved
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1770-1779
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1770
- Condition:Condition report: Good condition with strong plate impressions and visible platemarks. Light age toning, minor foxing, and handling wear consistent with age. Unframed, offered as three separate sheets.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-13494-1, -2, -31stDibs: LU3054346680702
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2009
1stDibs seller since 2017
2,819 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Langweer, Netherlands
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllRare 18th Century Fish Prints – Histoire Naturelle Engravings, ca.1770
Located in Langweer, NL
Set of Three Antique Fish Engravings from Diderot’s Encyclopédie, 1770s
A fine and complete set of three copperplate engravings from Denis Did...
Category
Antique 1770s French Prints
Materials
Paper
Antique Fish Prints – Engraved Plates of Rare Species, Hand-Colored, c.1821
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Print – TRUMPETFISH, MORAY, ELECTRIC EEL, LUMPSUCKER, SEAMOTH – Wilmsen – 1821
Antique Print – TOADFISH, CHIMAERA, BELUGA STURGEON – Wilmsen – 1821
Etching and engraving on...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Prints
Materials
Paper
Set of 3 Antique Fish Prints, Monkfish, Cowfish, Trunkfish, 1832
Located in Langweer, NL
Set of three original antique fish prints. Angler or monkfish, Lophius piscatorius 33, longnose batfish, Ogcocephalus vespertilio 34, and sargassumf...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century German Prints
Materials
Paper
$517 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Vibrant 1805 Handcolored Engraving of Rare Fish Species from Bertuch
s Work
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: Vibrant 1802 Handcolored Engraving of Rare Fish Species from Bertuch's Masterpiece
Description: This striking handcolored copperplate engraving from 1802 showcases four fas...
Category
Antique Early 1800s Prints
Materials
Paper
Exotic Fish Prints - Set of Five Hand-Colored Engravings by John Nieuhoff, c1704
Located in Langweer, NL
John Nieuhoff Exotic Fish Prints Set of Five Hand-Colored Engravings c1704
This rare and attractive group of five hand-colored engravings depicts a diverse selection of exotic marin...
Category
Antique Early 1700s Dutch Prints
Materials
Paper
Set of 2 Antique Fish Prints - Dolphin Fish - Goby - Sand Tilefish
Located in Langweer, NL
Set of two original antique fish prints. Dolphin fish or mahi mahi, Coryphaena hippurus 112, and sand tilefish, Malacanthus plumieri 113. Black goby, Gobius ...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
$344 Sale Price / set
20% Off
You May Also Like
Set of 3 Original Hand-Colored Antique Fish Prints – Cuvier
Lacépède, 1836
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A rare and exquisite set of two original hand-colored antique prints, created using etching or steel engraving techniques, from the Works of Cuvier and Lacépède. These detailed scien...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Prints
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Prints of Fish, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of fish
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints
Materials
Paper
Set of Two Original Hand-Colored Antique Fish Prints – Cuvier
Lacépède, 1836
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A rare and exquisite set of two original hand-colored antique prints, created using etching or steel engraving techniques, from the Works of Cuvier and Lacépède. These detailed scien...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Prints
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of Fish, 1847
Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of fish.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published ...
Category
Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints
Materials
Paper
Fish, engraving with original hand-colouring, circa 1815
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Fish, engraving with original hand-colouring, circa 1815.
From Bilderbuch Zum Nutzen und Vergnugen Der Jugend by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747-1822), an encyclopaedic collection of...
Category
Early 19th Century Naturalistic More Prints
Materials
Engraving
Original Antique Print of Fish, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of fish.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published,...
Category
Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints
Materials
Paper
