Antique Print of a Chinese Junk and a Dragon Prowed Ceremonial Barge, 1815

This is an original hand colored copper engraving, dated 1815, from Giulio Ferrario's Le Costume Ancien et Moderne (ancient and modern costume), showing Chinese river craft and ceremonial boats. The plate has no engraved title or caption.

Two subjects are stacked on one sheet. Above, a large broad hulled vessel lies in calm water with a long thatched roof over its cabins, latticed sides and a figure looking out of a window. A long spar runs the length of the deck above the roof, an anchor hangs at the bow and a large rudder blade stands out from the stern at the right. Below, a boat with a carved yellow dragon head at the prow carries a two tiered pavilion hung with pink drapery, with small figures on deck, a curved sail and a row of banners and spears on poles along the raised stern. Beside it at the right floats a long open boat with a single mast hung with a column of pink and blue tiered ornaments and a yellow pennant at the top.

The plate number "86." is engraved at the upper right above the border, and the engraver signed below the border, left of center: "L. Bigatti f." A small round blind stamp is pressed at the lower right corner of the plate mark, and an oval blind stamp sits in the lower left margin.

The plate comes from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne by Giulio Ferrario (1767 to 1847), a Milanese scholar and publisher. The work was a multi-volume illustrated survey of the customs of the peoples of the world, issued in parts in Italian and in French. The part wrapper issued with these plates closes with the imprint "MILAN, DE L'IMPRIMERIE DE L'EDITEUR, MDCCCXV" (Milan, from the publisher's press, 1815).

Light uneven toning, browner towards the edges. Marked handling soiling along the bottom, left and right edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. Slight wear at the bottom left, bottom right and top left corners.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.