Granite Chest Hieroglyphs with Kneeling Figures, Niebuhr Plate XXXI, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, plate XXXI of volume 1 of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie. The caption reads, in Dutch and then in French, Beeld-Schriften, op eene Kist van Granit. and Hiérogliphes, sur une Caisse de Granit., meaning "Hieroglyphs on a Chest of Granite".

The plate copies a section of carved surface. Along the top runs a frieze of recumbent jackals, each on a low base, alternating with groups of tall upright signs. Beneath it is a horizontal band of hieroglyphs, birds, seated and standing figures and enclosures among them, and below that a row of narrow ruled columns, the leftmost cut by the break, each filled with signs read from top to bottom. In the lower register, two standing figures at the left raise long, hooked tools above their heads, with small signs beside them. To the right four kneeling figures hold up their hands beneath tall curved stems that end in broad, blade shaped heads, with tiny birds drawn between hands and stems. The left edge of the stone is drawn as a jagged break running down the plate, so the copy shows where the surface is lost. The figures are drawn in solid tone and the signs in clean outline.

The plate number Tab: XXXI. is engraved upright along the right margin, beside the border. No artist's or engraver's name is lettered on this sheet.

The sheet comes from the first volume of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres Pays circonvoisins, the Tome Premier, translated from the German and issued at Amsterdam by S. J. Baalde and at Utrecht by J. van Schoonhoven and Comp., with the date MDCCLXXVI on its title page. 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.

A large loss at the upper left corner, outside the printed area. Uneven lower edge. Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Handling soiling along the bottom edge. A few small foxing spots in the margin.

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