Antique Ethnographic Prints of Indonesia & Timor Islands, Set of 8, 1852

Antique Ethnographic Prints of Indonesia & Timor Islands, Set of 8, 1852

An exceptionally decorative and historically fascinating set of eight original hand-colored lithographs depicting Indigenous peoples, warriors, and regional costumes from the Dutch East Indies and surrounding islands of Southeast Asia. Published in the rare Dutch ethnographic work De Volken van den Aardbodem in 1852, these prints combine documentary anthropological interest with refined mid-19th century lithographic artistry.

Created during the height of European exploration and colonial-era ethnographic publishing, the series presents vivid portrayals of local inhabitants from Java, Timor, Solor, Rotti, Sawu, and neighboring islands of the Indonesian archipelago. The prints capture ceremonial dress, weaponry, textiles, and hairstyles with remarkable visual appeal and delicate contemporary hand-coloring.

The eight prints included in this set are:

1. “Maleijer”, A Malay figure, representing the broader Malay peoples of maritime Southeast Asia, historically inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Indonesian archipelago.

2. “Krijgsman van het Eiland Solor”, Warrior of Solor Island, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands of eastern Indonesia, near Flores.

3. “Heraut van Timor”, Herald of Timor, representing ceremonial or courtly dress from the island of Timor in present-day Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

4. “Krijgsman van het Eiland Timor”, Warrior of Timor Island, shown with traditional weaponry and ceremonial attire.

5. “Javaan”, Javanese inhabitant of Java, Indonesia’s principal cultural and political island.

6. “Javaan in Krijgsdos”, Javanese warrior in military costume, depicted with spear and traditional dress associated with martial or courtly roles on Java.

7. “Inboorling van het Eiland Rotti”, Indigenous inhabitant of Rote (Rotti) Island, south-west of Timor in the East Nusa Tenggara region.

8. “Krijgsman van het Eiland Sawu”, Warrior of Sawu (Savu) Island, another island of the Lesser Sunda chain between Sumba and Timor.

The hand coloring remains fresh and attractive throughout, with especially strong blues, reds, pinks, greens, and earth tones. Together, the prints form a highly cohesive decorative ensemble with strong wall presence and considerable ethnographic interest. The series would display beautifully framed in dark walnut, black lacquer, or lightly gilt museum frames with wide ivory mats, particularly in libraries, studies, colonial interiors, Indonesian-inspired spaces, boutique hotels, or sophisticated eclectic interiors.

The images are especially appealing for collectors interested in:

• Dutch colonial history

• Indonesia and the Dutch East Indies

• ethnographic and anthropological imagery

• tribal costume and ceremonial dress

• Southeast Asian decorative arts

Condition report:

Overall condition is good for works of this age, with age-related toning, occasional foxing, small stains, and light marginal wear as expected. Some sheets show minor edge imperfections and handling marks consistent with mid-19th century paper. The colors remain remarkably vivid and attractive.

The prints are original antique lithographs, not reproductions.

Technique: Original hand-colored lithographs

Maker: European school, Dutch, 1852

Source: De Volken van den Aardbodem, 1852