Sesame Plant – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)
  • Sesame Plant – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)
Sesame Plant – Munting Antique Botanical Engraving (1696)
Sesame Plant (Sesamum indicum) – Antique Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving by Abraham Munting (1696)

Sesame Plant (Sesamum indicum) – Antique Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving by Abraham Munting (1696)

€980.00
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Original 17th-century hand-colored engraving of a sesame plant (Sesamum indicum) by Abraham Munting, featuring exposed roots and a refined botanical composition.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Sesame Plant: Botanical Clarity and Rooted Structure

This original late 17th-century hand-colored copper engraving depicts Sesame Plant, traditionally identified as Sesamum indicum, from Abraham Munting’s Dutch work Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen, later known as Phytographia Curiosa, published in 1696.

Unlike later botanical illustration, Munting’s compositions present the plant as a complete organism — roots, stem, leaves and flowers arranged with structural clarity, transforming natural history into a refined form of botanical theatre.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is defined by a strong vertical axis, with the plant rising clearly from an exposed root system that spreads outward in fine, intricate lines. This foundation gives the engraving both visual stability and scientific precision.

The foliage is rendered with careful attention to variation, with elongated leaves arranged in a natural rhythm along the stem. Subtle tonal shifts in green create depth without overwhelming the composition.

Small, delicate flowers appear near the upper section, introducing a gentle chromatic accent that contrasts with the more dominant green tones of the leaves.

The overall effect is one of clarity and balance, where the plant is presented not as spectacle, but as a carefully observed organism — reflecting Munting’s ability to combine scientific observation with aesthetic restraint.

About the Species

Sesamum indicum, known as sesame, has been cultivated for thousands of years and was already a well-known plant in early modern botanical studies. Its seeds were valued for their oil and culinary uses.

In the seventeenth century, such plants represented the connection between practical knowledge and botanical science, illustrating the expanding global understanding of useful species.

Heritage Stories

This engraving belongs to Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen, later known as Phytographia Curiosa, published in 1696 by Abraham Munting — a work that captures a transitional moment in the history of botanical illustration, where science, collecting and visual culture were deeply intertwined.

Examples with original contemporary hand-coloring are particularly scarce. Many impressions encountered on the market today have been colored at a later date, whereas early colorings such as this preserve a more nuanced palette and a closer dialogue with the engraved line.

Explore the full collection of Munting botanical engravings: Munting – Botanical Prints

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

Condition Report

Very good antique condition. The original hand-coloring remains fresh and well balanced, with clear engraved detail throughout. Printed on fine original laid (vergé) paper. The sheet retains slightly reduced margins compared to larger examples, yet remains well proportioned and visually balanced. No watermark observed. A clean and refined impression.

Details

  • Author: Abraham Munting
  • Work: Nauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen (later known as Phytographia Curiosa)
  • Species: Sesame Plant (Sesamum indicum)
  • Year: 1696 (edition)
  • Technique: Original copper engraving, entirely hand-colored
  • Paper: Original laid (vergé) paper
  • Watermark: None observed
  • Sheet size: approx. 39 × 25 cm
U49
1 Item

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