Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s
Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831
Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, view 2

Close-ups

Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, close-up 1Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, close-up 2Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, close-up 3Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, close-up 4Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, close-up 5

Framed and on the wall

Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, shown framedAntique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, shown framed on a wallAntique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831, shown framed in a room

Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.

Antique Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831

$880 (£660, €780)

Period original, not a reproduction.

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Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.

Date
1831
Size
10.7 × 8.9 in (27.1 × 22.7 cm)
Condition
Good. Moderate age-related toning and minor surface marks. Overall attractive and stable.
Period
Early 19th century
Section
Botanical
Reference
f_48077232

Antique Olive Botanical Print, Olea Europaea, Hand Colored, c.1831

Description:

This strong and highly decorative botanical engraving depicts Olea Europaea, the olive tree, shown with characteristic leaves and fruit. The olive has been a cornerstone of Mediterranean agriculture and commerce for millennia, valued for oil production, food, and symbolic meaning.

Issued as part of Zenker’s Merkantilische Waarenkunde, the plate reflects the enduring economic importance of the olive in European trade and daily life. The composition balances botanical clarity with visual richness, making it one of the most desirable food-crop plates in the series.

Original hand coloring brings depth and warmth to the foliage and olives, giving the image excellent wall presence. This plate performs particularly well as a standalone statement piece or within a Mediterranean grouping.

Condition report:

Moderate age-related toning and minor surface marks. Overall attractive and stable.

Framing tips:

A warm cream mat and a natural wood or lightly antiqued frame enhance the classical character of the subject.

Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring

Maker: Jonathan Carl Zenker, Germany, 1831–1832