Louis Prang

Weaver Birds

Louis Prang's original chromolithograph, "Weaver Birds" hails from the natural history set entitled, "Animate Creation". It is a fine, original example of the bird art created by the German / American lithographic artist, Louis Prang in 1898. Here Prang depicts a group of weaver birds in their natural enviroment. The true 'Weaver Birds' all inhabit the hotter portions of the Old World, the majority are found in several parts of Africa and the remainder in various parts of India.

One of its most remarkable attractions are their large social nests that can be seen from a great distance. These nests are generally built in the branches of the giraffe thorn or 'kameeldorn' one of the acacia tribe, on which the giraffe is fond of feeding, and which is specially valuable in Southern Africa for the hardiness of its wood. This tree only grows in the most arid districts, and is very suitable for the 'Sociable Weaver-Bird". Here Prang's birds include the 'Mahali Weaver Bird', the 'Rufous-Necked Weaver', also called the 'Capmore Weaver', the 'Red-Billed Weaver Bird', the 'Widow Bird' also known as the 'Whidah Bird', and the Paradise', or 'Broad-Shafted Whidah Bird'.

Louis Prang's original Chromolithograph, "Weaver Birds" is printed on 19th century wove paper and with full margins as published in New York by Selmar Hess in 1898. It hails from a natural history set entitled, "Animate Creation" containing original color lithographs created under the supervision of the American lithographic artist and printer, Louis Prang. This nineteenth century portrayal of birds in their environment is a brilliant example of Louis Prang's chromolithographic art.

Weaver Birds

View other original works of art by Louis Prang.

Louis Prang (Breslau, 1823 - Los Angeles, 1909)
Series: "Animate Creation"
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Publisher
1.-		Black and White Kingfisher by Louis Prang	Original Chromolithograph	1898	Selmar Hess, New York	Sold
2.-		Group of Finches by Louis Prang	Original Chromolithograph	1898	Selmar Hess, New York
3.-		Lammergeyer Birds of Prey by Louis Prang	Original Chromolithograph	1898	Selmar Hess, New York	Sold
4.-		Paradise Flycatchers by Louis Prang	Original Chromolithograph	1898	Selmar Hess, New York	Sold
5.-		Titmice by Louis Prang	Original Chromolithograph	1898	Selmar Hess, New York
6.-		Weaver Birds by Louis Prang	Original Chromolithograph	1898	Selmar Hess, New York

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Title:	Weaver Birds
Artist:	Prang, Louis (Breslau, 1823 - Los Angeles, 1909)
Date:	1898
Medium:	Original Chromolithograph
Publisher:	Selmar Hess, New York
Note:	Louis Prang: Born in Germany, Louis Prang sailed for the United States in 1850. During his initial years in his adopted country he worked for a short period for both Gleason's Pictorial and for lithographic printers in Philadelphia. In 1856 Louis Prang went into lithographic partnership with Julius Mayer, in Boston. By 1864 he set up his own business which then grew to eventually dominate the important field of color lithography in America. Prang & Company created all kinds of color lithographs (chromolithographs), from large landscapes and advertising posters, to botanical, ornamental, architectural and natural history plates, as well as numerous greeting and Christmas cards. No matter what the subject, the distinguishing element of a Prang 'chromo' was that it was usually superior to similar subjects published by the competition. From his long standing Boston establishment, Prang regularly designed and printed the most technically accomplished chromolithographs in the history of the medium. His original color prints demanded as much as thirty-five separate printings in order to achieve the subtleties of tone and color that Prang demanded. No one, either before or after him, matched Prang's consummate skills.
	During the 1890's, when Art Nouveau trends altered taste and design, Prang again emerged as America's foremost lithographic printer, lending his expertise to many famous posters. Once author states, "In years to come, Louis Prang was to tower over his competitors. He linked his name for all time to come with the word chromolithography, and gradually established himself as the country's leading promoter and purveyor of chromos." *
	Weaver Birds: The true 'Weaver Birds' all inhabit the hotter portions of the Old World, the majority are found in several parts of Africa and the remainder in various parts of India. One of its most remarkable attractions are their large social nests that can be seen from a great distance. These nests are generally built in the branches of the giraffe thorn or 'kameeldorn' one of the acacia tribe, on which the giraffe is fond of feeding, and which is specially valuable in Southern Africa for the hardiness of its wood. This tree only grows in the most arid districts, and is very suitable for the 'Sociable Weaver-Bird". The 'Mahali Weaver Bird', is an inhabitant of Africa, found as far south as the tropic of Capricorn. Their nests resemble the reed-covered bottles, which are often seen in the windows of wine importers, the shape is similar to a wine flask or skittle. The 'Rufous-Necked Weaver', found in Senegal, Congo and other hot portions of that continent. Also called the 'Capmore Weaver'. This species is mostly orange-yellow, variegated with black upon the upper surface. The head, chin and part of the throat are black, and the ruddy chestnut band crosses the nape of the neck. Like many other birds, it changes the color of its plumage according to the time of year and after the breeding season is over; its head assumes a tint similar to the back. it's total length being a little more than six inches. The 'Red-Billed Weaver Bird' is common in South Africa and is notable for its habit of attending the herds of buffaloes, eating the numerous parasitic insects, which always infest those large quadrupeds. One of the most curious is the 'Widow Bird' also known as the 'Whidah Bird'. 'The Paradise', or 'Broad-Shafted Whidah Bird', is the most familiar in cages and menageries. It is not an uncommon bird in its native land, found throughout the whole district from Senegal to Angola. It is assumed to have been given the name on account of its dark color and long train. However, the proper name is 'Whidah Bird', a title that was originally given to it by the Portuguese, because the first specimens that were brought to Europe came from the kingdom of Whidah, on the eastern coast of Africa.
Source:	This original Prang chromolithograph entitled, "Weaver Birds" hails from a natural history set entitled, Animate Creation. All the color lithographs dealing with natural history subjects -- including eleven portrayals of birds -- were created under his supervision. As with all Prang's work, the color printing is both accurate and superbly rendered.
Reference:	* S. H. Hutchings, "Fine Art Lithography in Boston: Craftsmanship in Color, 1840-1900, Art and Commerce: American Prints of the Nineteenth Century", Charlottesville, University Press of Virginia, 1978, p. 111.
	* The Rev. J. G. Wood,"Animate Creation.", Selmar Hess, New York, 1898, pp. 332 - 336.
Size:	8 1/2 X 5 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $125.00 US
Condition:	Printed on nineteenth century wove paper and with full margins as published in New York in 1898. In excellent condition throughout and retaining its full color ranges. This original chromolithograph entitled, "Weaver Birds" stands as a prime example of the art of Louis Prang, America's foremost color printer of the nineteenth century.
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