Granite Chest Hieroglyphs with Three Standing Figures, Plate XXXV, 1776

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1776, plate XXXV 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".

Along the top is a frieze of recumbent jackals on low bases alternating with groups of tall upright signs, and below it a horizontal band of hieroglyphs with birds, seated figures and other signs. Beneath the band a row of ruled columns of signs runs across the plate, with birds, kneeling and standing figures, water lines and small enclosures among them. In the lower register three figures stand in a row on a ground line, drawn in tone with fine hatching. At the left is a figure with an animal's head holding a tall staff; the other two raise both arms above their heads, and beside the figure at the right are a few further signs. A band of meander pattern runs along the base. The left side of the stone is drawn broken away along a ragged line that runs from the top band down to the foot of the panel, cutting into the first columns and the meander.

Under the lower right corner of the image is lettered "C. J. de Huyser direx." The plate number Tab. XXXV. is engraved upright along the right margin, beside the border.

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.

Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Handling soiling along the left and right edges. Slight wear at the bottom right corner. Minor edge wear, shallow nicks along the right.

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