Antique Engraving, Earl of Ormonde Armorial Bookplate, Florentine Frame, Ca. 1850s
Antique Engraving, Earl of Ormonde Armorial Bookplate, Florentine Frame, Ca. 1850s
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Antique engraved armorial bookplate of James Wandesford Butler, 19th Earl of Ormonde and Ossory, K.P., removed from his personal library and mounted on board, presented here in a jeweled Florentine giltwood frame. The Butler family were one of the great Anglo-Irish noble dynasties, seated at Kilkenny Castle, and the 19th Earl held a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick — the chain and badge of that Order surround the shield in the engraving. The full achievement shows the traditional Butler supporters, a falcon and a chained yale, beneath an earl's coronet, with the family motto "Comme Je Trouve" on twin banners below. Bookplates at this level of quality were engraved by specialist London firms for a nobleman's personal library, and this one dates to the 1840s to 1860s, consistent with the 19th Earl's active years.
The print is in good antique condition with age-appropriate toning and foxing across the paper surface, visible as light brown spotting and general yellowing throughout. There is some grayish shadowing or soiling concentrated toward the lower portion of the print, likely accumulated over many decades. The engraving itself is clear and fully legible with good impression throughout. The print has been removed from its original book and glued to a wooden board; this is how the piece was prepared for framing and is part of its history rather than damage. There is no glass over the print.
The Florentine giltwood frame is in good antique condition with honest wear consistent with age. The gilding shows losses and rubbing throughout, particularly at the corners and along the molding edges, exposing the gesso and wood beneath. The applied gesso ornament is largely intact. The red paste cabochons and blue-green floral elements are present across all four sides, with minor losses to a small number of individual stones. The frame structure is sound. The single brass hanging hardware on the verso is present and functional.
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Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
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