Pair of Antique Hand-Coloured Engravings – Viennese Street Traders | Strohhutträmer & Hutterinn | L. Brand / Seb. Mansfeld | Framed
Pair of Antique Hand-Coloured Copper Engravings | Viennese Street Traders Series | "Strohhutträmer" & "Hutterinn" | Drawn by L. Brand Prof. | Engraved by Seb. Mansfeld | Framed | approx. 33 × 26 cm
A magnificent and rare matched pair of antique hand-coloured copper engravings from the celebrated Viennese street trades and criers tradition — one of the most beloved and collectible genres of 18th and early 19th century Central European printmaking. These two prints depict the everyday street life of Vienna with extraordinary charm, precision, and wit: the cheerful Strohhutträmer (Straw Hat Seller) and the animated Hutterinn (Female Hat Seller), each carrying their wares with the lively energy that made this genre so enduringly popular.
Both prints carry the bilingual German-French captions characteristic of the Viennese street criers series produced for an educated, cosmopolitan audience: "Strohhutträmer / Marchand de chapeaux de paille" and "Hutterinn / Vendeuse de Chapeaux". The draughtsmanship is attributed to L. Brand, Professor, and the engraving to Sebastian Mansfeld — one of the most prolific and accomplished Viennese engravers of the late 18th and early 19th century, known for his work on the celebrated Wiener Typen (Viennese Types) series.
The hand-colouring — applied by hand to each print individually after printing — gives these works a warmth and immediacy that no modern reproduction can replicate. The colours remain vivid and well-preserved: the straw hat seller's blue coat and green waistcoat, the hat seller's rose and gold dress, the warm ochre tones of the straw hats themselves.
Both prints are presented in matching walnut-toned wood frames with gold inner slip moulding, ready to hang as a pair.
Print Details
- Print 1: Strohhutträmer / Marchand de chapeaux de paille (Straw Hat Seller)
- Print 2: Hutterinn / Vendeuse de Chapeaux (Female Hat Seller)
- Series: Viennese Street Traders / Wiener Typen
- Draughtsman: L. Brand, Professor
- Engraver: Sebastian (Seb.) Mansfeld
- Technique: Copper engraving with original hand-colouring
- Language of captions: Bilingual German & French
- Period: Late 18th – early 19th century
- Origin: Vienna, Austria
Frame & Dimensions
- Frame: Walnut-toned wood with gold inner slip moulding
- Frame height: approx. 49 cm
- Frame width: approx. 33 cm
- Print height (visible): approx. 40 cm
- Print width (visible): approx. 26 cm
- Quantity: Pair of 2 (sold together)
Condition — Please Read Carefully
- Hand-colouring vivid and well-preserved with no significant fading
- Paper shows age-appropriate toning consistent with period prints
- Minor foxing spots may be present — please review close-up photos carefully
- Frames in good vintage condition with minor wear to edges
- Glass intact on both frames
- Please review all photos carefully — what you see is what you get.
About Sebastian Mansfeld
Sebastian Mansfeld (Vienna, 1755–1826) was one of the leading engravers of the Viennese school, celebrated for his precise and lively depictions of Viennese street life, trades, and popular types. His prints from the Wiener Typen series are held in major European print collections including the Wien Museum and the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. A signed Mansfeld engraving is a genuine piece of Viennese cultural history.
Styling Ideas
- Hang as a pair in a study, hallway, or dining room for an instant Viennese salon atmosphere
- Ideal for lovers of antique prints, Viennese history, and 18th-century costume
- A distinguished gift for collectors of Austrian art and cultural history
- Perfect for classic, Biedermeier, or old-world interior aesthetics
Two figures from the streets of 18th-century Vienna — still vivid, still charming, still entirely alive.