Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of an Egyptian Goose from Buffon’s "Histoire naturelle des oiseaux" - 12¼"

This charming antique hand-colored ornithological engraving depicts an Egyptian goose, identified beneath by the historic French caption Oye d’Egypte. The image reproduces plate 379 from François-Nicolas Martinet’s celebrated bird illustrations for Buffon’s Histoire naturelle des oiseaux, a major 18th-century study of ornithology, first published in the 1770s.

The present example is likely a later reproduction of the original plate, retaining the elegant simplicity and finely observed detail associated with Martinet’s work. The sheet has a warm aged tone with scattered marks and softly faded color, and is presented under glass in a distressed giltwood frame. The worn gilding complements the paper beautifully and adds to the historic character of the piece.

With its soft russet, green and cream palette, it would sit naturally within a country-house interior, whether hung alone as a small focal point or incorporated into a gallery wall of botanical and ornithological works. The aged paper and worn gilt frame bring a gentle sense of history, while the encyclopedic origin adds a light scholarly note.