{"product_id":"c-1780-shell-engravings-by-ignaz-von-born","title":"c. 1780 Shell Engravings by Ignaz von Born","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA beautiful pair of \u003cb\u003e18th-century hand-colored engravings depicting seashells\u003c\/b\u003e, associated with the celebrated natural-history work of \u003cb\u003eIgnaz Edler von Born (1742–1791)\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTestacea Musei Caesarei Vindobonensis\u003c\/i\u003e, first published in Vienna in 1780.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBorn's \u003ci\u003eTestacea\u003c\/i\u003e was commissioned at the direction of \u003cb\u003eEmpress Maria Theresa of Austria\u003c\/b\u003e to document the extraordinary shell collection of the Imperial Cabinet in Vienna. Published in a sumptuous folio edition, the work contained \u003cb\u003e18 finely engraved plates of shells, colored by hand\u003c\/b\u003e, along with numerous smaller engraved shell illustrations and decorative vignettes. The plates were designed by \u003cb\u003eFranz Fuxeder\u003c\/b\u003e and engraved by \u003cb\u003eKarl Schütz and J. Adam\u003c\/b\u003e, making the publication an important work in the development of 18th-century scientific and natural-history illustration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe present pair depicts delicately rendered shells arranged within decorative architectural frames, with the characteristic fine linework and restrained hand coloring of 18th-century natural-history engraving. The subjects reflect the period's fascination with \u003cb\u003econchology, collecting, and the cataloguing of the natural world\u003c\/b\u003e—an especially fashionable pursuit among European collectors and cabinets of curiosity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBeyond their decorative appeal, Born's illustrations have \u003cb\u003ereal scholarly and collecting significance\u003c\/b\u003e. The 1780 \u003ci\u003eTestacea\u003c\/i\u003e is regarded as one of the important conchological works of the 18th century, and Born's descriptions remain significant to the study of mollusks; he described a number of species new to science from the imperial collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/b\u003e c. 1780; Holland, Netherlands.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/b\u003e Hand-colored engraving on paper, later frame.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e 9\" L x 8\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Good antique condition with age-appropriate toning, foxing, and minor imperfections to the paper. Housed in later frames with pink matting and silver-toned frames. Please see photographs for details.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Netherlands, 18th c.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44213409579095,"sku":null,"price":280.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0577\/3505\/3399\/files\/116_35d16053-42bf-4dc2-a441-d907d4419f86.jpg?v=1788141947","url":"https:\/\/gladysavenue.com\/products\/c-1780-shell-engravings-by-ignaz-von-born","provider":"Gladys Avenue","version":"1.0","type":"link"}