Dress of the Arabs of Distinction in Yemen, Antique Print, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, plate LXXI of the first volume of Carsten Niebuhr's account of his travels in Arabia. The caption reads Kléding der Voornaame Arabieren in Yemen. in Dutch and Habillement des Arabes de Distinction dans l'Yemen. in French, meaning "Dress of the Arabs of distinction in Yemen".

A bearded man in a large turban stands full length at the center, holding a tall spear upright in his raised right hand while his left hand rests at his waist. Over a long robe embroidered with flower sprays he wears a loose open coat with wide sleeves, and a broad sash is wound around his waist. A curved dagger in a sheath is thrust through the front of the sash, and a long string of beads hangs from it. Below the robe show the lower edges of further garments, and he wears soft slippers. In the background at the left two smaller figures carry curved blades, one standing with his blade raised over his head and the other crouching low, and at the right a building stands on a rocky height beside a tree, with a tall flowering plant in front.

The lower margin is lettered Brun, del. at the left and C. F. Fritsch, fecit. at the right. The plate number Tab: LXXI. is engraved at the upper right.

The plate comes from the first volume of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres Pays circonvoisins, Traduit de l'Allemand (translated from the German), published A Amsterdam, chez S. J. Baalde and A Utrecht, chez J. van Schoonhoven & Comp., with the date MDCCLXXVI (1776) on the title page. Carsten Niebuhr (1733 to 1815) was a German born surveyor in Danish service and the only member of the Danish expedition to Arabia (1761 to 1767), sent by King Frederick V of Denmark, to return alive. The account was first published in German at Copenhagen; this is the French translation printed in Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Handling soiling along the bottom edge. A few small foxing spots in the margin. Slight wear at the top right corner. One larger brown mark.

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