Henri Abraham Chatelain Attributed (1 results)

Chatelain, Henri Abraham (attributed) (illustrator). A substantial and visually commanding early eighteenth-century heraldic chart, taken from the celebrated publications of Henri Abraham Chatelain, one of the most important engravers and compilers of geographical and historical visual works of the period. This Carte du Blason presents a complete visual system of heraldry, combining a richly hand-coloured central field of coats of arms with surrounding engraved tables detailing heraldic charges, ordinaries, and terminology arranged alphabetically. Produced at a time when heraldry remained a living language of power, identity, and lineage, this chart functioned both as a reference tool and as a demonstration of noble structure within European society. Its scale, colour, and density of information place it firmly within the great tradition of Enlightenment-era visual encyclopaedism. Chatelain, Atlas Historique and associated engraved suites, c.1705 to1720. Comparable heraldic plates appear within Chatelains broader corpus of instructional and historical engravings. Description; Large engraved sheet with original hand-colour. Central panel: extensive grid of hand-coloured coats of arms Side panels: engraved tables of heraldic forms and charges Lower sections: alphabetical reference tables and explanatory text French text throughout Approximate size: 740 x 535 mm (as per auction grouping) Date: circa 1720 Printed on laid paper. Condition; Good for a large-format engraved sheet of this age. Light toning and handling wear Minor creasing and edge wear consistent with being stored rolled Some surface marks Colours remain strong and well-preserved No major losses to the central armorial display Presents very well overall. Why This Matters; This is not a decorative derivative, it is part of the foundational visual language of European heraldry. Chatelains works are increasingly recognised as: Early examples of information design Bridges between cartography, genealogy, and symbolic systems Highly displayable large-format engravings Large, hand-coloured heraldic charts of this scale are scarce, particularly outside institutional collections.