This is an antique print looking at the early history of dentistry. It is not a later reproduction but is about 220 years old. It is a genuine Georgian print - with engraved / etched lines printed onto the sheet and then hand-coloured with subtle watercolour washes.
The print is in excellent condition with no spotting, staining or tears. The original watercolours are clean with no signs of fading.
It is a rare work and very collectable. There are not so many on the market - I have found another couple of impressions in public collections: one in the British Museum, one in the Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum in Melbourne, Australia, and another in the collection of the Welcome Collection, London.
The subject features a primitive tooth extraction. It shows a man / dental surgeon pulling another man's tooth which is tied with a string - and at the same time makes him recoil quickly by thrusting a red-hot coal held in the fire tongs near his face. The patient quickly recoils in terror - and the string pulls out his bad tooth.
The image was a popular one - and comes from an original etching by J. Collier (aka "Tim Bobbin) (1708 - 1786). The first version of this subject was published in 1773. The image proved so popular that it was copied by Edward Orme. This one has later lettering beneath the image Mirth and Anguish - which suggests to me a slightly later date of around 1810.
The image relates to Plate 8 of the series "Human Passions Delineated". Orme has slightly softened the features of the pair of gentlemen depicted so they don't look as sinister as in the Collier prototype - but it remains extremely close to the 1770s original impression.
The image measures 15 x 20 cm. The frame size is 26.5 x 30 cm.
These antique dentistry prints are hard to find and are now highly collectable.
This print is in good antique condition. We have had it framed up for sale - and it has a new cream colour acid-free window mount and a simple black wood frame.
It is beautifully presented and ready for you to hang on your wall.
UK Postage will be with Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery. This will cost £10 and applied to your order at the checkout.