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 Olive Botanical Print, Hand Colored Copper Engraving, c.1831
£660 ($870, €780)
Period original, not a reproduction.
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
- Colour
- Hand coloured
What the condition grades mean
- Excellent
- Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
- Very good
- Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
- Good
- Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
- Fair
- Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
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
