Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s
French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832

Close-ups

French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, close-up 1French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, close-up 2French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, close-up 3French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, close-up 4French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, close-up 5French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, close-up 6

Framed and on the wall

French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, shown framedFrench Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, shown framed on a wallFrench Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832, shown framed in a room

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

French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832

€330 ($370, £280, €330)

Period original, not a reproduction.

Enquire about this print

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

Date
1832
Size
9.4 × 5.9 in (24 × 15 cm)
Condition
Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Good antique condition with age-related toning, scattered light foxing and minor marks, particularly within the margins. The original hand coloring remains attractive and the engraved details are clear and well preserved. Minor imperfections.
Period
Early 19th century
Section
Fish and shells
Reference
f_51682072

French Turbo Sea Shells Hand-Colored Natural History Engraving, 1832

Description:

Original antique hand-colored engraving depicting four species of Turbo sea shells, published in Paris by J.B. Baillière et Fils in 1832.

This beautifully executed natural history plate presents several marine turban snails from multiple perspectives, showing both their dark, strongly textured exteriors and the remarkable pearlescent interiors of their apertures. Delicate hand coloring in shades of pink, green, silver and cream emphasizes the naturally iridescent character of the shells.

The species identified on the plate include:

1. Turbo bouche-rose, Turbo merula

2. Turbo de Quoy, Turbo Quoyi

3. Turbo noir, Turbo niger

4. Turbo bouche-d'argent, Turbo Argyrostomus

The plate is numbered “Pl. 29” and bears the credits “Maubert pinx.” and “Pivet sculp.” Maubert was responsible for the original artwork, while Pivet engraved the plate. It was published in Paris by the important French scientific and medical publishing house J.B. Baillière et Fils.

A particularly decorative example of 19th-century French malacological illustration, combining scientific observation with the refined aesthetic characteristic of natural history publications of the period.

Maubert, artist

Pivet, engraver

J.B. Baillière et Fils, publisher

Paris

1832

Plate 29

Original hand-colored engraving

This is an original antique print published in 1832, not a modern reproduction.

Condition:

Good antique condition with age-related toning, scattered light foxing and minor marks, particularly within the margins. The original hand coloring remains attractive and the engraved details are clear and well preserved. Minor imperfections and handling wear are consistent with a work of this age. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.

Period;

Early 19th Century

Style:

Natural History

Scientific Illustration

French School

Medium:

Hand-colored engraving on paper

Subject:

Sea Shells

Turbo Shells

Turban Snails

Marine Life

Malacology

Natural History

Keywords:

antique shell print, sea shell engraving, seashell engraving, shell print, Turbo shells, Turbo merula, Turbo Quoyi, Turbo niger, Turbo argyrostomus, turban snail, marine shells, marine life, malacology, conchology, natural history, natural history print, scientific illustration, zoological print, French engraving, French natural history, hand colored engraving, hand coloured engraving, Maubert, Pivet, J.B. Baillière, Jean-Baptiste Baillière, Paris, 1832, 19th century print, antique engraving, coastal decor, beach house decor, marine decor, cabinet of curiosities, scientific print