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Description

A decorative and historically oriented map of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, based on classical geography and engraved by Christoph Weigel for his atlas of the ancient world. The map distinguishes between India intra Gangem (within the Ganges, encompassing most of the subcontinent) and India extra Gangem (beyond the Ganges, covering Burma, Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula).

Drawn from Greco-Roman sources such as Ptolemy, the map includes numerous ancient place names and ethnographic regions—Scythia, Gedrosia, Parapamisus, Aria, and others. The Malay Peninsula is labeled Aurea Chersonesus, the Golden Peninsula of classical legend, a term reflecting ancient perceptions of the region's wealth and geographic mystery. Coastlines, rivers, and capes are engraved in detail, with a wide sweep across the Indicum Mare (Indian Ocean).

An elaborate allegorical cartouche in the upper right depicts a war elephant and Roman-style figures, underscoring the exoticism and wealth attributed to these lands in the classical imagination.

Issued in Nuremberg as part of Weigel’s Descriptio Orbis Antiqui, this map reflects early 18th-century German scholarship on ancient geography, rendered in a visually compelling and collectible form.

Condition Description
Original hand-color. Engraving on 18th-century laid paper. Some worm holes, namely in the cartouche.
Johann Christoph Weigel Biography

Johann Christoph Weigel (1654-1725), sometimes known as Christop Weigel the Elder, was a notable German engraver, art dealer, and publisher, renowned for his contributions to the fields of cartography and illustration during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born in 1654 in the city of Redwitz, in the Margraviate of Bayreuth, Weigel embarked on a career that would place him among the prominent figures in the world of European printmaking.

Weigel's early life and training are somewhat obscure, but it is known that he was active in Nuremberg, a city renowned for its vibrant artistic and cultural scene. Nuremberg was a hub for artists, craftsmen, and publishers, and it was here that Weigel honed his skills and established his reputation. He married the daughter of the prominent engraver and publisher Johann Christoph Lochner, which further integrated him into the thriving artistic community of Nuremberg.

His work encompassed various subjects, including maps, historical scenes, portraits, and scientific illustrations. Weigel's maps are particularly notable for their detail and accuracy, reflecting the growing interest in geography and exploration during his time. His cartographic works often combined practical utility with artistic embellishment, making them valuable for both navigational purposes and as works of art.

One of Weigel's significant contributions was his involvement in the production of the Atlas scholasticus et itinerarius, a comprehensive world atlas that was widely used in educational settings. This work demonstrated his skill in synthesizing geographical information into accessible and informative maps.

In addition to his cartographic endeavors, Weigel produced a vast array of illustrations for books on various subjects, ranging from history to natural science. His illustrations were known for their clarity and detail, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge in an era when visual representations were crucial for understanding complex ideas.

Weigel's legacy is that of a versatile and skilled engraver and publisher who contributed significantly to the visual culture of his time. His works provided practical information and reflected the late Baroque period's intellectual and artistic currents. Christoph Weigel passed away in 1725, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be appreciated for its artistic merit and historical value.