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ALBRECHT DÜRER
Coat of Arms with a Lion and a Cock
.
Engraving, circa 1503. 185x120 mm; 7
1
/
4
x4
3
/
4
inches. A superb, dark, richly-inked Meder
b impression with very strong contrasts, with the horizontal scratches lower left distinct
and with no sign of wear, consistent with the earliest impressions of this engraving. Small
jar watermark (Meder 158, which he dates to around 1525). With narrow to thread
margins outside the border line.
Dürer’s first engraved coat-of-arms; he made one other in addition to several woodcuts
like this subject.This arms was likely not intended for a specific family, but rather a creation
of pure fantasy by Dürer; the elaborate foliage and additional details allowing him to display
his virtuoso engraving skills. Bartsch 100; Meder 97.
[12,000/18,000]