Eight plates depicting various tradespeople, from Les Hindoûs ou description de leurs moeur...

Eight plates depicting various tradespeople, from Les Hindoûs ou description de leurs moeurs, coutumes et cérémonies, by Francois Balthazar Solvyns (1760-1824) Chez L'Auteur, Paris, 1808-1812 partly printed, partly hand-coloured etchings on paper, each with section number and title in lower border, framed plates 355 x 253 mm. (sight); frames 39 x 49 cm.(8) Footnotes: The subjects are as follows: Goundah-Banyahs (gandhabhanik), grocers (1st section). Mayrahs, confectioners. Soulys (siuli), toddy tapper. Hualouays (halwai), confectioners. Tchassah-dobahs (casadhoba), farmers. Mok'hen-Walla, butter-maker (fourth section). Routy-walla (rotiwallah), bread-maker. Bawerdjy (bawarchi), cook. The original complete work was published in 48 parts in 4 volumes, with 288 etched plates. The present lot comprises five plates from the first section, and three from the fourth. Arranged in sections, the four volumes illustrate the customs, festivals, occupations, caste system and costume of the Hindus, encompassing all social classes. The images are of tradesmen and their tools, princes, doctors (vol. I), dances, religious devotees, different types of musical instruments, customs associated with marriage and death (vol. II), types of boats, games, modes of transportation, games and various methods of smoking (vol. III), classes of domestic servant and native flora and fauna (vol. IV). The accompanying text provides explanations and descriptions of Hindu customs and habits, such as the rituals of religious ceremonies, meetings for conversation, servants' duties and the cultivation of plants for domestic use. A native of Antwerp, Balthazar Solvyns arrived in India in 1791. In 1792 he provided illustrations for a report on the expedition of Alexander Kyd (the Surveyor-General in Calcutta) to Penang and the Andaman Islands. Later, he produced his comprehensive work on India, A Collection of Two Hundred and Fifty Coloured Etchings Descriptive of the Manners, Customs, and Dress of the Hindoos (Calcutta, 1799). The French edition was enlarged and improved. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing