17th-century French intaglio printing press 61"

This rare, museum-quality printmaking press dates from the first half of the seventeenth-century. Artists such as Abraham Bosse (1604-1676) and Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) used such printing presses. Bosse was one of the most important artists of this period in this discipline. Although an architect, Piranesi was also known for his superb engravings of Rome. See the picture of an engraving dated 1645 by Abraham Bosse that shows a printmaker working with a similar press.

The legs are typical of the style of Henri II. This printing press, or ‘taille douce’ was used for several printing techniques including mezzotint, aquatint, intaglio, dry point etching and stipple engraving. The engraved copper plate was covered in ink, wiped off then laid onto the press with paper and fed through the heavy wheel, turned with the huge wooden spokes.

In the early twentieth century the press belonged to an artist who lived in a building in the fourteenth arrondissement in Paris - the building was occupied by painters and sculptors. He sold the press to a couple who were both painters and parents of Karibou (also an artist). They used it throughout their working lives and passed it onto Karibou who has also made use of this historic press. Minor losses, repairs and wear as expected of a functioning printing press from this period - refer to photos and video. Read more about Karibou on our blog here.