The Hummingbird's Nest | Original Reichenbach Hummingbird Engraving (1855–1860)
  • The Hummingbird's Nest | Original Reichenbach Hummingbird Engraving (1855–1860)
  • The Hummingbird's Nest | Original Reichenbach Hummingbird Engraving (1855–1860)
  • The Hummingbird's Nest | Original Reichenbach Hummingbird Engraving (1855–1860)
The Hummingbird's Nest | Original Reichenbach Hummingbird Engraving (1855–1860)
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) with Nest – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) with Nest – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) with Nest – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) with Nest – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

€395.00
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An exceptional original hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, portraying hummingbirds during the nesting season. Featuring a beautifully woven nest, delicate blue flowers and vibrant emerald plumage, this rare nineteenth-century composition combines ornithological observation with remarkable decorative elegance.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

The Hummingbird's Nest: A Rare Celebration of Life in Reichenbach's Ornithology

Among the most evocative plates from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, this original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving portrays hummingbirds within one of nature's most intimate moments: the nesting season. Rather than presenting isolated scientific specimens, the composition captures a complete narrative of courtship, feeding and reproduction, making it one of the most distinctive images of the entire series.

Three hummingbirds surround a delicately woven nest containing a single egg, while vivid blue blossoms rise gracefully through the centre of the composition. The result is an engraving that combines scientific observation with remarkable artistic sensitivity, celebrating not only the birds themselves but the fragile ecosystem that sustains them.

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Visual Analysis

Unlike many natural history plates that focus exclusively on anatomical representation, this composition tells a complete visual story. The hovering bird at the top introduces movement and energy, while the feeding individual and the quietly perched companion guide the eye toward the carefully rendered nest below. The scene possesses an exceptional sense of balance, transforming scientific illustration into genuine decorative art.

The brilliant emerald plumage, fiery orange crown, rich chestnut tones and luminous white underparts create a vibrant colour palette that contrasts beautifully with the delicate blue flowers. This harmonious arrangement gives the engraving an elegant, almost poetic character, making it particularly suitable for collectors seeking works that unite ornithology, botanical beauty and refined interior decoration.

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About the Species

Although this plate belongs to one of the later sections of Trochilinarum Enumeratio and its precise taxonomic attribution remains uncertain, it offers an unusually rich insight into hummingbird behaviour. Reichenbach chose to depict multiple stages of daily life, including feeding, territorial display and nesting, subjects only rarely represented in nineteenth-century ornithological illustration.

The flowers closely resemble species of Aquilegia (columbine), whose long nectar-bearing spurs illustrate the specialised relationship between tubular flowers and long-billed hummingbirds. Whether intended as a precise botanical record or as an artistic interpretation of their natural habitat, the floral setting reinforces the ecological bond between these remarkable birds and the plants upon which they depend.

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Heritage Stories

This engraving belongs to Ludwig Reichenbach's remarkable world of hummingbirds, where Victorian scientific curiosity meets extraordinary visual elegance. Explore the story behind Trochilinarum Enumeratio and discover why these original hummingbird engravings remain so compelling today.

Ludwig Reichenbach and the Art of Hummingbirds →

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Condition Report

Very Good condition. Original nineteenth-century paper with strong hand colouring and a clear plate mark. Minor age-related signs may be present, entirely consistent with authenticity and the historical character of the work.

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Details

Species: Unidentified hummingbirds (historical plate)
Work: Trochilinarum Enumeratio
Author: Ludwig Reichenbach
Date: c. 1855–1860
Technique: Original hand-colored engraving
Plate: DCCCLII (852)
Reference numbers: 5021–23
Inscription: ad naturam (“drawn from life”)
Associated plant: Aquilegia sp. (probable identification)
Subject: Nesting hummingbirds with nest and egg
Sheet size: approx. 28.5 × 22.5 cm

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