Empire State Grapes, Hand Stenciled Page From c. 1868 Nursery Specimens Salesman Sample Catalog

Regular price $75.00

Such luminous and voluptuous grapes, I do want to eat--or drink!--them right up. I've handled a few examples (of apples and peaches and pears) of this type before--this would have been one page in a salesman sample type horticultural specimen catalogue (unbound, but held together in a large folio/case). This is not a lithograph--rather, the grapes here were rendered in a manner akin to a theorem watercolor, using multiple, hand-cut stencils and meticulously applied layers of watercolor/gouache. This technique is often called Pochoir, from the French, or a hand stencil print. With ink printed text below describing the attributes of these gorgeous Empire State grapes, originated in Newburg, NY. On the reverse appears "1868" which seems quite likely the date of its making; most examples of these date to the 1870s-early 1880s.

8 1/2" x 5 1/2", beautiful antique condition, crisp and radiant.