Knowing what someone likes makes finding a gift much easier. What do they wear, surround themselves with or talk about? What do they like? Perhaps they have a sense of humour..? Thoughtfulness in the selection of presents is always appreciated. Let us help you..
There's nothing nicer than recognition of someone's interests. Why not buy a picture of something that interests them? Antique prints cover most subjects.
Antique prints and maps can be large or small, expensive or not, conventional or strange, really old or surprisingly modern-looking.
Antique means they are over 100 years old (and could be up to 400 years old). They are not made any more. The method of their making is no longer used. Their subject is usually what makes them special, but the quality, rarity and condition all add to their individual appeal.
Prices of antique prints can be as little as $25 (depending on how old they are and their quality and rarity) but they all look great when framed. If you are interested in economising, remove a frame that you like from something that you don't like. You can easily take this to a picture framer, with a substitute antique map or antique print. Sometimes you can be lucky and find the mount that supports the previous image, is in good condition - and preferably conservation material so that it will not deteriorate and damage the replacement artwork. Otherwise, it really is worth investing a little extra in replacing the mount and backboard.
Australian historical antiques.
Colonial days in the Australian country and cities are reminders of how much our culture has evolved. Most people living here appreciate the early scenes of our country - even humorous engravings of experiences of immigrants from around the world - particularly during the gold-rushes.
There are equally fascinating views of other countries - including particularly fine steel and copperplate engravings and lithographs of England, and landscapes, buildings and customs of China of the mid-19th century. Small antique prints also cost less to be framed.
Gardeners who loves Australian native plants, or have a favourite plant or shrub in their garden, will surely appreciate an antique print that shows its flower all year round. There are grand lithographs c1880 from H.G. Moon watercolours of orchids from around the world. (Reichenbachia orchids, with one illustrated above.) There is also a wonderful selection of delicate but large orchid Limited Edition prints of R.D. Fitzgerald's Australian Orchids in our Decorator Art reproductions section (as we only have one of each). Colours and shapes of foliage and flowers (some with finely engraved dissections), and almost-modern graphics of leaves, ferns, and fruit are decorative and timeless. Flowers, herbs, mushrooms, nuts, fruit and vegetables are always popular. There are 16th century herbal woodcuts, 17th and 18th century hand-coloured copperplate engravings and hand-coloured 19th century steel and wood engravings and lithographs, and small colour-printed lithographs from the end of the 19th century on. (The latter are of course the least expensive.)
Most people enjoy listening to and watching birds, but is it the small or larger birds that appeal? Select from grand hand-coloured lithographs of Australian birds by John Gould circa 1840-1888. Gould Australian animals circa 1845-1864, or smaller Australian antique engravings and lithographs of animals can be selected. Small bird (and animal) engravings by William Home Lizars c1840 are of exquisite detail and colour. Inexpensive but finely detailed are French hand-coloured engravings c1820-1860 that have a few birds to each page, or the single bird portraits by Reverend F.O. Morris of the same period... and dogs, or groups of animals including marine life. Children love the animals, as well as the more conventional choice of story book or nursery rhyme lithographs. Don't forget to have a look at the Decorator Art limited edition reproduction prints of John Gould Birds of Australia.
A porcelain collector might not have access to the finest Sevres or Faience, but will love beautiful porcelain lithographs to hang on the wall.
Lithographs and engravings of grand or simple furniture, including those used by kings (including Egyptian tomb paintings) will appeal to more than interior designers and architects - as will classical building and landscape design, and both flamboyant and simple designs for furnishings, ceiling and wall decoration of previous centuries. Small or large, elaborate Rococo or simple style, some almost modern design, they will suit any environment, and add interest to any room.
Builders might appreciate antique prints of wood framework in contruction, stone architectural details or machinery of17th to 19th century antique prints.
Architects would surely preferenjoy the little engravings from Vignole's Rules of Architecture, practical or grand architecture and other architectural details, - as well as architectural ruins from previous centuries.
Early medical instrument engravings and anatomy lithographs circa1880, are often both startling and informative.
Classical engraved portraits of judges are revered as the law-makers of yesteryear. While many are familiar with 19th and early 20th century caricatures of the legal fraternity, did you know this series also featured lithographs of politicians and other Men of the Day. Wigged legal gentlemen and sportsmen with sporting equipment have always been the most expensive original engravings and lithographs, but other original humorous caricatures from Vanity Fair can be as little as $45. While original Vanity Fair chromolithographs of Australian Cricket and English Cricket are now around $750 each, good Heritage Editions reproduction sporting prints of English Cricket and Australian Cricket are only $20 each.
Not only musicians appreciate engravings and lithographs of ancient instruments - and almost everyone appreciates the charm and elegance of 1920's hand-coloured fashion pochoirs from Gazette du Bon Ton. Golf is well-covered in humorous Punch cartoon woodcuts c1890, as well as classic golf fashion pochoirs c1912-1925.
Maps, Marine & Military.
Early military engravings include 17thC small engravings of fortifications by Mallet and Bartoli's large engravings of Trajan's Roman battles (from the relief on Trajan's column in Rome), 18thC marine engravings of early voyages, 19thC finely-engraved battle scenes on land and sea, and naval and army portraits, engravings of the Crimean War, Bartlett's finely engraved English coastal scenes, and all manner of worldwide news. Also interesting are Allom's views of China after the first Opium war with Britain, and sailing ships that carried immigrants and cargo around the world in the 19thcentury. They all make wonderful groups for dramatic and interesting wall features - or add interest to any corner - or the smallest room in the house.
Antique maps are fascinating! They feature inaccurate geography when cartographers assume or inaccurately chart a newly-discovered coastline, islands and countries - and they show history and political changes of country and province boundaries.
The discovery of the east coast of Australia by James Cook in 1770, resulted in European settlement at Port Jackson in New South Wales. We have engravings from "Captain Cook's Voyage", and a wonderful French map from 17 years earlier, where Jacques Nicolas Bellin 'supposes' where the east coast might be. Antique maps from the 17th century to the 20th century are all affordable. There’s a large choice of periods and places, from as little as $40. A map in recognition of your ancestry, or a map of a country you visited, may not be as much in demand as a map of the world, so will cost less. Quality and rarity will affect the value, but finer maps are harder to find and appreciate in value more.
Buy securely online 24/7 from http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/ or take a drive in the country to the Antique Print Club at Neranwood, in the hills behind the Gold Coast.
Imagination is the limitation in gift selection - and a knowledge of what is available.. Gift Certificates are always available! Please contact us directly for assistance with your selection from our thousands of antique maps and prints: Email sales@antiqueprintclub.com or Phone +61 (0)412 442 283.