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A striking pair of 19th-century hand-colored heraldic engravings, these handsome works bring wonderful Old World character and a sense of English country-house history to an interior. Richly detailed and beautifully presented, the pair offers an unusual combination of heraldry, decorative art, and historic portraiture through coats of arms.Likely originating from a large-format heraldic or peerage reference volume, each engraving depicts an elaborate coat of arms rendered with remarkable detail. Crowns, shields, animal supporters, crests, scrolling acanthus ornament, banners, and beautifully executed calligraphy fill the compositions. The original hand coloring adds rich shades of burgundy, green, gold, and earthy brown while retaining the delicacy of the engraved linework.One engraving identifies William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, with his distinctive armorial achievement supported by a lion and stag. The companion depicts Marmaduke Langdale, Baron Langdale, with a pair of animal supporters surrounding the shield and the Latin motto Post Tenebras Lucem—“After darkness, light.” Together, they make an especially interesting pairing for anyone drawn to British history, genealogy, heraldry, or aristocratic decorative arts.Each framed piece measures approximately 23.5 inches high × 16.5 inches wide × 0.75 inch deep. The engravings have been more recently framed, likely within approximately the last 60 years, in eye-catching gold-finished wood frames. Particularly attractive are the broad, richly mottled textured mattes, whose deep brown, amber, black, and russet tones have an almost marbled or tortoiseshell-like appearance. This dramatic treatment beautifully complements the aged paper and jewel-like hand coloring while giving the pair considerable decorative presence. Good antique condition with age-related spotting and toning to the engravings. There are some areas of gold loss to the frames. Please review the photos for further condition assessment.Each engraving is protected under glass. Displayed together, the pair would be superb in a library, study, entry hall, office, or English country-inspired interior. Their combination of aged heraldic imagery, ornate gilt framing, and unusual patterned mattes makes them distinctive wall décor with genuine Old World charm.Check out our other antique listings.
