Goldfish Hardcover Journal — François-Nicolas Martinet 1780 Histoire Naturelle des Dorades de la Chine Hand-Colored Engraving Billardon de Sauvigny

Witness the moment Europe first marveled at the gilded fish of China—exotic Dragon Eyes goldfish that captivated the French court in 1780.

In 1780, French naturalist Edme-Louis Billardon de Sauvigny published Histoire naturelle des dorades de la Chine (Natural History of the Gilded Fish of China), the first European monograph dedicated exclusively to goldfish. Based on paintings and notes sent from China to the French court, this landmark work introduced European audiences to 88 varieties of ornamental goldfish, creatures still considered rare and exotic in the West. The term "dorades" referred not to sea bream, but to the fish's shimmering golden appearance. Court engraver François-Nicolas Martinet transformed anonymous Chinese drawings into 48 exquisite hand-colored plates, creating a visual encyclopedia of aquatic beauty that bridged Eastern breeding traditions and Western scientific illustration.

Front Cover (Plate 22): This journal's cover features Martinet's hand-colored engraving depicting three varieties of Long-Tsing-Yu or "Dragon Eyes" goldfish, a type of Ya-Tan-Yu ("Duck Eggs") prized for their prominent, protruding eyes. The three color variants are labeled in French: Le Rouillé (The Rusty, golden-brown), Le Cerise (The Cherry, deep red), and Le Léopard (The Leopard, mottled with spotted patterns). Each fish is rendered with meticulous attention to scale patterns, fin structure, and the distinctive bulging eyes that gave this variety its dramatic name. The delicate hand-coloring captures the iridescent quality that made these fish treasures of Chinese imperial gardens and objects of fascination in European salons.

Back Cover: The back cover presents another Martinet engraving from the same series, depicting two additional goldfish varieties: Le Souci (The Marigold) and La Capucine (The Nasturtium), named for their vibrant floral colors. The plate includes Chinese characters (Kin Tu) and calligraphic annotations, preserving the cross-cultural exchange that made this publication possible. Together, the front and back covers showcase the extraordinary diversity of goldfish breeding achieved in China over centuries, documented at the moment these "gilded fish" first entered European scientific consciousness.

This monograph represents a pivotal moment in natural history when Eastern horticultural mastery met Western Enlightenment curiosity. Billardon de Sauvigny's work served as both scientific reference and art book, introducing French aristocrats and naturalists to the sophisticated breeding techniques that had transformed the humble Prussian carp into living jewels of ornamental aquaculture.

Why This Journal Inspires:

• Features the first European monograph on goldfish, published in Paris 1780
• Showcases François-Nicolas Martinet's rare hand-colored engravings of Dragon Eyes goldfish varieties
• Documents the moment Chinese ornamental fish captivated the French court and European naturalists
• Celebrates cross-cultural exchange between Chinese breeding traditions and Western scientific illustration

Product Details:

• Format: Hardcover journal with matte finish
• Pages: 128 ruled pages
• Binding: Durable casewrap binding
• Dimensions: 5.75" × 8" (14.6 cm × 20.3 cm)
• Weight: 0.22 lbs (100 g)
• Cover: Premium matte finish with 1780 hand-colored goldfish engravings

Perfect For:

• Aquarists and koi/goldfish enthusiasts
• Natural history collectors and ichthyology students
• Admirers of 18th-century French Enlightenment science
• Collectors of hand-colored engravings and botanical/zoological illustration
• Students of Sino-European cultural exchange
• Ornamental fish breeders and aquaculture historians

EU Compliance Notice: This product complies with EU regulations. For detailed information about materials, safety, and manufacturer details, please contact us or refer to the product packaging.

Carry the gilded fish of China—where centuries of breeding artistry met European wonder, and living jewels swam from imperial gardens into the pages of history.