Close-ups
Framed and on the wall
Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.
Antique Handcolored Engraving of Amphibious Eels and Snakes, c.180
€140 ($160, £120, €140)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- Not stated
- Size
- 7.7 × 9.3 in (19.5 × 23.5 cm)
- Condition
- Good. Good condition. General age-related toning, minor edge wear, no text on verso. Colors remain vivid. Please review images carefully.
- Artist or book
- Bertuch
- Section
- Fish and shells
- Reference
- f_42551922
Description: This original handcolored copperplate engraving illustrates four species of amphibious or aquatic eels and snake-like creatures in dynamic poses. It is part of Friedrich Johann Bertuch’s Bilderbuch für Kinder (Picture Book for Children), a celebrated 12-volume natural history encyclopedia published between 1790 and 1830. The detailed depictions emphasize the anatomical and behavioral diversity of these creatures, blending scientific precision with artistic finesse.
The engraving features:
1. A creature resembling the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla), noted for its elongated, smooth body and narrow head.
2. A snake-like creature with yellow markings, possibly a Yellow-Spotted Water Snake (Hydrodynastes gigas).
3. A coiled species resembling a Caecilian, a limbless amphibian commonly found in tropical regions.
4. A unique species with a broad, bulbous head, likely a South American Lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa), known for its ability to breathe air.
This rare engraving is a valuable addition to collections of antique zoological illustrations, natural history art, or educational prints.
Condition Report
Good condition. General age-related toning, minor edge wear, no text on verso. Colors remain vivid. Please review images carefully.
