Golden Holly – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving
  • Golden Holly – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving
Golden Holly – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving
Golden Holly (Agrifolium auratum) – Abraham Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)

Golden Holly (Agrifolium auratum) – Abraham Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)

€1,550.00
Tax included

A striking 17th-century botanical engraving of golden holly, distinguished by its sculptural form and rare chromatic palette. A visually powerful composition blending natural history and decorative art.

Quantity

  Delivery policy

Your print will be carefully prepared and shipped worldwide via trusted couriers (UPS or similar).

  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Golden Holly: Sculptural Form and Rare Chromatic Presence in Munting’s Vision

This original late 17th-century hand-colored copper engraving depicts a Golden Holly, identified as Agrifolium auratum, from Abraham Munting’s Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen, published in 1696. The plate stands among the most visually striking examples of early botanical illustration, where natural observation is transformed into a bold and decorative composition.

Unlike conventional botanical plates, Munting presents the plant as a monumental and structured form. The composition elevates the subject beyond simple documentation, creating an image that is both scientific and distinctly artistic.

— • —

Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The engraving is dominated by sharply serrated leaves arranged in a powerful vertical structure. The tonal range moves from deep olive greens to warm golden hues, creating an unusually rich and almost metallic chromatic effect.

The foliage radiates outward with rhythmic precision, forming a dense and sculptural mass that gives the plant an architectural presence. This strong geometry distinguishes the plate from more naturalistic botanical representations.

At the base, an ornate vessel decorated with classical motifs introduces a further layer of visual complexity. The presence of small human figures and decorative elements transforms the engraving into a hybrid composition, where botanical subject and artistic invention are seamlessly combined.

The large format and generous original margins enhance the impact of the composition, allowing the structure of the plant to unfold with clarity and authority. The result is a piece with exceptional decorative strength.

About the Species

Agrifolium, or holly, has long been associated with ornamental cultivation and symbolic meaning. Variants such as auratum, characterised by unusual coloration, were particularly valued within early botanical collections.

In the seventeenth century, such specimens represented both botanical interest and visual rarity, making them ideal subjects for inclusion in works that combined scientific observation with aesthetic exploration.

Heritage Stories

This engraving belongs to Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen, published in 1696 by Abraham Munting — a work that reflects a period when botanical illustration was deeply influenced by the culture of curiosity and display.

Examples with original contemporary hand-coloring are exceptionally scarce. Many impressions encountered today have later coloring, whereas early colorings such as this preserve a subtler and more historically authentic tonal structure.

Explore the full collection: Munting Botanical Prints.

Discover more in our editorial feature: Abraham Munting — Botanical Curiosity and Early Natural Science.

Condition Report

Excellent antique condition. Original hand-coloring remains exceptionally fresh and vibrant, with strong engraved definition throughout. Printed on fine original laid (vergé) paper. The sheet retains generous original margins, clean and well balanced. No watermark observed. A particularly strong and visually impressive example.

Details

  • Author: Abraham Munting
  • Work: Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen
  • Species: Golden Holly (Agrifolium auratum)
  • Year: 1696 (edition)
  • Technique: Original copper engraving, entirely hand-colored
  • Paper: Original laid (vergé) paper
  • Watermark: None observed
  • Sheet size: approx. 44 × 29 cm
U37
1 Item

Specific References

Reviews (0)
No customer reviews for the moment.