Copper engraving, 320x20.5 mm, hand-painted, based on a drawing by Martinet. A fine example. Taken from the famous “Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers” (Encyclopedia, or systematic dictionary of sciences, arts, and crafts), the Enlightenment encyclopedia published in France between 1751 and 1766, with subsequent supplements and revisions in 1772, 1777, and 1780, and numerous foreign editions. It is a milestone in the history of science and publishing, providing a methodical and in-depth illustration of the arts and sciences, the tools and methods of craftsmen and merchants. The entire encyclopedia was published between 1751 and 1772 and comprised 17 volumes of text and 11 volumes of plates. The wonderful detailed plates show how each object of the time was made. The encyclopedia had an enormous impact on its time and is highly valued by historians today as a record of the techniques and professions of the pre-industrial world. It is also a great resource for collectors, craftsmen, and artists.