Antique 1774 French Engraving Les Confidences Freudenberger Gold Gilt Frame 23\" For Sale

Listing Description Les Confidences Original 1774 French Masterpiece • Museum Framed Artist / Invenit S. Freudenberger Engraver / Sculptor C. L. Lingée Date of Production 1774 (18th Century) Frame Dimensions 23” L x 16” W

An exceptional acquisition for the discerning connoisseur. This is an authentic 1774 antique etching and engraving titled \"Les Confidences\" (Plate 8), from the monumentally significant historical series Monument du Costume Physique et Moral. This celebrated series meticulously documented the apex of French high society, fashion, and aristocratic domestic interior design immediately preceding the seismic shift of the French Revolution.

The Artwork & Value Breakdown

More than a simple print, this piece is an investment-grade window into Pre-Revolutionary France. It features meticulous hand-colored watercolor tint layers over crisp copper-plate hand-inked impression lines. This highly specialized technique was executed during the era to drastically increase the decorative presence and luxury tier of the work.

The scene captures a sophisticated parlor interior featuring two upper-class women (Iris and Julie) seated on a formal settee exchanging delicate confidences. The lower register boasts a beautifully engraved cartouche featuring a stylized torch motif and classical French poetic verses addressing the treacherous nature of romance, reading in part: \"Iris, dans le portrait que lui montre Julie, voit d’un amant chéri toute la perfidie...\"

A note on the Framing Value: The engraving is house-presented in an authentic, high-quality antique gold-leaf wooden frame. The frame features a gorgeous Neoclassical relief consisting of a repeating ribbon-and-leaf cluster garland motif that precisely mirrors the visual vocabulary of the 1770s Rococo/Neoclassical transition. The premium weight and authentic metallic sheen of the gilding elevate this from casual decor to a prominent, gallery-ready statement piece.

Technical Specifications

• Full Frame Size: 23 inches Long x 16 inches Wide
• Sight Window Size: 14 inches Long x 10 inches Wide
• Publisher Inscription: \"A Paris ches Buldet rue de Gesvres.\" (Denis Charles Buldet)
• Left Margin Attribution: \"I.H.E. inv. S. Freudeberg del.\"
• Right Margin Attribution: \"C. L. Lingée Sculp. 1774.\"

Verified Condition Report Important Reminders Below

⚠️ CRITICAL REMINDER FOR BUYERS: Please review all high-resolution macro photography carefully to fully appreciate and confirm the exact cosmetic condition before executing your purchase.

• Paper Support & Medium: Good, stable antique condition. Shows uniform time-toning (natural warming/yellowing of the historical paper pulp fibers) completely expected and desired for a genuine 250+ year old sheet. Central image area is remarkably clean with no disruptive active foxing blooms or distracting moisture tide marks.
• Pigment Status: The hand-applied watercolor washes remain vibrant, stable, and highly decorative. Expected, minor light-fading over generations to the fugitive red/pink pigments, retaining excellent vintage display value.
• Margins: Minor historical mat-burn (darkening of the sheet outline where the window mat met raw paper fibers long ago). All textual inscriptions and artist signatures are highly legible, crisp, and intact.
• Frame Presentation: Structurally solid and tight at the corners. The hand-gilded surface shows gorgeous, natural oxidation patina and light dust settling into the deep-set Neoclassical ornament valleys. Minimal micro-flaking typical of old gesso/gold leaf framing. Ready to hang immediately.

Shipping & Handling Information

We take extreme care in prepping our items for delivery. All delicate millinery is sent securely boxed to guarantee safe, crush-proof transit. Keep in mind the shipping price also covers handling fees, packaging materials & time, not just postage.

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LOC: C6