The Throne Bearers Relief at Persepolis, Antique Niebuhr Print, 1780

This is an original antique copper engraving, published in 1780, from the second volume of Carsten Niebuhr's travels. The plate carries no title or caption; it shows a tall relief of a throne platform carried on the raised arms of standing men.

At the top a bearded figure in a tall crown sits on a high backed chair, his feet on a footstool, holding a long staff in one hand and a small flower in the other. Behind him an attendant in a long robe raises a curved fly whisk and holds a cloth. Above them hangs a canopy with a fringe of tassels, topped by two bands of small walking animals, each with a winged disc at its center.

Below, the throne platform rests on three registers of men who stand with both arms raised overhead, four in the top register and five in each of the two below, each dressed differently from his neighbor in robes, tunics, cloaks and caps. The platform is framed at the sides by massive turned legs with scrolled brackets ending in animal heads, and the legs end in fluted feet at the bottom. The lower right margin is signed C: J. de Huyser, direx,, and the plate number Tab: XXX. is engraved at the upper right.

The plate comes from the second volume, Tome Second, of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres Pays circonvoisins, Traduit de l'Allemand, published by S. J. Baalde at Amsterdam and Barthelemy Wild at Utrecht, with the date MDCCLXXX, 1780, on its 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.

A small loss at the left edge toward the lower left, outside the printed area. Narrow lower margin. Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Marked handling soiling along the right and top edges. A few small foxing spots.

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