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Japanese Ornament Print, Antique Lithograph of Geometric & Floral Patterns 1869
£185 ($245, €220)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- 1869
- Size
- 15.9 × 11.3 in (40.4 × 28.8 cm)
- Condition
- Excellent. Strong sheet with vivid, unfaded colors. Minimal age-toning to margins. No tears or repairs.
- Period
- Late 19th century
- Section
- Botanical
- Reference
- f_46121362
Japanese Ornament Print, Antique Lithograph of Geometric & Floral Patterns, c.1869
This vibrant chromolithograph presents a dazzling array of Japanese ornamental designs, featuring geometric precision and botanical beauty in equal measure. Plate XII from L'Ornement Polychrome, it is a superb example of 19th-century European fascination with Japanese aesthetics, compiled during the peak of Japonisme in the decorative arts.
The print displays a wide variety of interlocking hexagonal, circular, and diamond-shaped motifs, each composed of delicate floral or abstract elements, drawn from textiles, lacquerware, and ceramics. The upper section features stylized foliage and floral scrolls, with tessellated patterns set against a deep green background. Below, individual ornaments fill the page in a kaleidoscope of colors, indigo, ochre, vermillion, soft jade, and gold, each demonstrating the Japanese mastery of pattern, symmetry, and symbolic design.
At the center, a graceful bird (possibly a crane or pheasant) appears mid-flight among blossoms, reinforcing themes of harmony with nature and seasonal beauty, central to Japanese visual culture. The placement of patterns around natural forms reflects Japanese textile traditions, such as those seen in kimono and obi sashes.
This plate was produced in Paris around 1869 by the famed printer Firmin-Didot and lithographed by Pauleove after drawings collected by A. Racinet. Using chromolithography, the image captures intricate detail and a nuanced color palette that honors the subtle yet structured elegance of Japanese design. These prints were used by designers and craftsmen throughout Europe as reference material, directly influencing Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts movements.
Historically, this print reflects how Japanese visual language captivated Western artists and led to new decorative idioms that celebrated asymmetry, negative space, and nature-inspired abstraction.
Condition: Excellent. Strong sheet with vivid, unfaded colors. Minimal age-toning to margins. No tears or repairs.
Framing tips: A simple black, dark cherry, or gold frame will elegantly set off the print’s color scheme. Use a light green, cream, or soft blue mat to complement the background and bring out the floral details.
Technique: Chromolithograph
Maker: Firmin-Didot, Paris, after A. Racinet, c.1869
