Heinrich Aldegrever, “Ornament with Sphinxes and Mask”, 1552

Heinrich Aldegrever (c1501/2–c1555/61)

“Ornament with Sphinxes and Mask” (TIB title) (aka “Autre montant d’ornemens, où l’on voit au bas deux Sphinx”; “Vlakdecoratie met bladranken en grotesken” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1552.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15 x 5.5 cm; (plate) 14.7 x 5.2 cm.

Inscribed in plate with Aldegrever's monogram and date at lower centre on tablet.

TIB 16(8).286(448) (Robert A Koch [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 16, New York, Abaris Books, p. 258, cat. no. 286 [448]); New Hollstein (German) 286 (Aldegrever) (Ursula Mielke [comp.] 1998, “The New Hollstein: German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts 1400–1700: Heinrich Aldegrever”, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision, p. 232, cat. no. 286).

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1853-0709-240; http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.322655.

Condition: a well-printed silvery impression trimmed close to the platemark with thread margins and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a near pristine condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this original, very beautiful and rare engraving from the Renaissance era by one of the major old masters strongly influenced by Albrecht Dürer—note Aldegrever’s adaptation of Dürer’s monogram for his own—for AU$586 (currently US$388.63/EUR353.73/GBP301.73 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$586) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this small and magnificently executed masterpiece of engraving, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold