Lot Essay
The present impression compares well with the example in the British Museum.
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Bust of an Oriental Man
Details
ISRAHEL VAN MECKENEM (1440-1503)
Bust of an Oriental Man
engraving, circa 1485, on laid paper, watermark Gothic P with Flower (Lehrs 25), a very fine impression of this rare print, trimmed to or on the platemark at the sides and above and just into the platemark below, some small, skilful repairs and minor thin spots, a few touches of pen and ink mainly in the turban, otherwise in very good condition
Plate & Sheet 206 x 132 mm.
Bust of an Oriental Man
engraving, circa 1485, on laid paper, watermark Gothic P with Flower (Lehrs 25), a very fine impression of this rare print, trimmed to or on the platemark at the sides and above and just into the platemark below, some small, skilful repairs and minor thin spots, a few touches of pen and ink mainly in the turban, otherwise in very good condition
Plate & Sheet 206 x 132 mm.
Provenance
With Wilhelm Eduard Drugulin (1825-1879), Leipzig (Lugt 2612).
Graf Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg (1804-1865), Klein Oels, Silesia (Lugt 2669); presumably acquired from the above; then by descent in the family; their sale, C.G. Boerner, Leipzig, 2-3 May 1932, lot 16 ('... in von Geisberg mit höchster Auszeichnung genanntem Abdruck. Wasserzeichen: gotisches p. Wenig ausgebessert. Sehr selten.') (Mk. 3,000; to Matthiessen); this impression cited by Lehrs.
With Galerie Matthiessen, Berlin; acquired at the above sale.
With Colnaghi & Co., London, with their stock number C. 10017 in pencil verso; presumably acquired from the above.
Albert W. Blum (1882-1952), Switzerland and Short Hills, New Jersey (Lugt 79b); then by descent in the family; their sale, Sotheby's, New York, 27 February 1988, lot 1029 (US$ 13,200).
Acquired at the above sale, then by descent to the present owner.
Graf Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg (1804-1865), Klein Oels, Silesia (Lugt 2669); presumably acquired from the above; then by descent in the family; their sale, C.G. Boerner, Leipzig, 2-3 May 1932, lot 16 ('... in von Geisberg mit höchster Auszeichnung genanntem Abdruck. Wasserzeichen: gotisches p. Wenig ausgebessert. Sehr selten.') (Mk. 3,000; to Matthiessen); this impression cited by Lehrs.
With Galerie Matthiessen, Berlin; acquired at the above sale.
With Colnaghi & Co., London, with their stock number C. 10017 in pencil verso; presumably acquired from the above.
Albert W. Blum (1882-1952), Switzerland and Short Hills, New Jersey (Lugt 79b); then by descent in the family; their sale, Sotheby's, New York, 27 February 1988, lot 1029 (US$ 13,200).
Acquired at the above sale, then by descent to the present owner.
Literature
Bartsch 2; Lehrs, Hollstein 515
Brought to you by
Tim Schmelcher
International Specialist