Animal kingdom

During a lunch last month, my friend Cecie Chewning casually handed me a small packet of engravings that she had been given by her uncle. I didn't look at them until a few days later, and when I did, whoa! What a treasure.

They've been scanned them into the archive now, so it seemed time to share them. The pages are relatively small - 8.5" x 4.5" - and there are headings and table numbers on each, but no bibliographic information. Not even the engraver, whose name usually is at the bottom of a plate.

They are hand-painted, and exquisite, if a bit worn/foxed. I'm guessing circa early 1800s, and betting there were more in whatever book they're from, since fish, insects, etc. are absent from mine. Here's a look at what I have … they'll be turning up in collages.

Sorting a garden of paper

                 

It is brrrrrr outside but spring has arrived inside the studio. I vowed that after the new year - and after the Pulp Art exhibit opened - it would be time to tackle the stacks of paper accumulated during the past six months or so.

Inevitably, sorting leads to scanning the images I can't bear to part with. These stunning early 19th century lithographs are hand-colored. Some are by well-known printers such as Day & Haghe, pioneers of lithography. Others are from classic magazines such as Curtis' Botanical Magazine and The Floriculture Cabinet.

If they were in mint condition, they'd be highly collectible, and I'd be matting them and selling them in the "Things I Can't Bear to Cut Up" bin. But you can't see it in the scans, because I cleaned them up a bit, these are less than perfect. So, they will go under the knife.

The plan is to use them to create a fantastical garden - maybe as part of The Grand Tour series. Meanwhile, I thought I'd share some favorites from the stash ...