Antique Thai or Siamese Costume Print, Hand-Colored Engraving, 1854

Title: Antique 1854 Thai or Siamese Costume Print, Hand-Colored Engraving

Description:

This original antique print, titled “Thai of Siamees,” shows a richly dressed Thai or Siamese figure in traditional costume. Published in 1854, the image reflects the mid-19th-century European fascination with the peoples, clothing, and cultures of Asia. The figure is shown standing in an elegant pose, wearing a tall decorated headdress, loose white upper garment, red patterned trousers, and yellow shoes. The small palm trees in the background add a tropical setting and reinforce the Southeast Asian subject.

The print is finely hand-colored, with strong red, yellow, green, and soft flesh tones. The costume is carefully detailed, especially in the patterned red fabric and the decorative headdress. Costume prints of this period were made not only as decorative images but also as visual records of global dress, ethnography, and travel-related knowledge. This example is particularly appealing for collectors of Asian costume, Thai history, Siamese subjects, colonial-era travel imagery, or 19th-century ethnographic prints.

This is an original antique engraving from 1854, not a reproduction. All items we offer are authentic period works of art over 100 years old. The print is sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale.

Condition report:

Good antique condition with age toning, light surface marks, minor spotting, and some wear along the edges, consistent with age and handling. The sheet has wide margins and retains a strong decorative presence.

Framing tips:

This print would look elegant in a dark walnut, black, or bamboo-style frame with a wide ivory or warm off-white mat. A simple museum-style presentation would emphasize the delicate hand-coloring and the historic character of the sheet.

Technique: Hand-colored engraving

Maker: Dutch, 1854