Collection: Antique Copper Engravings

The copperplate engraving is an intaglio printing technique. Classical copperplate engraving emerged in Germany the early 15^th century. Goldsmiths who wanted to control the use of the various designs engraved on gold and silver plates, made an impression of the design on paper. Gradually they started to reproduce these images in their own right. The design or image is engraved into the copper plate, the ink is carefully applied, and then the remains of the ink are wiped off the surface of the plate, leaving the ink in the grooves of the engraving. The plate is covered with a humid sheet of paper and the image is printed under a very high pressure in a printing press.