Perlarum insula ob vnionum copiam sic dicta. · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Perlarum insula ob vnionum copiam sic dicta.
Subject: Indigenous peoples – Venezuela; Pearl oysters; Oystering; Pearl industry and trade; Indigenous traders; Dugout canoes; Sailing ships; Colonists
Period: 1550-1600;
Geographic: Cubagua; Venezuela; South America; Frankfurt (Germany); Germany; Free Imperial City of Frankfurt; Holy Roman Empire
Description: Near Cubagua, a small island off the coast of Venezuela, Indigenous people gather oysters to retrieve the pearls from them. They dive into the water to gather the oysters, which they load into small wooden boats and then into sacks carried over their heads. This island was known for its abundance of pearls. There are three large European ships in the channel between the island and the mainland. On the island, a group of Spaniards have come ashore and stand with a group of Indigenous people bearing bows and strands of pearls. There are several long dwellings on the island, including four arranged in a circle and surrounded by a fence. This image is identical to one found on page 171 of Frankfurt, 1594, but colored.
Image Creator: Theodor de Bry (Engraver); Johann Feyerabend (Printer)
Type: StillImage; Copperplate engraving
Identifier: mta:23721
Language: lat
Source Name: Americae pars quarta. Sive, Insignis & Admiranda Historia de reperta primùm Occidentali India à Christophoro Columbo Anno M. CCCCXCII
Parent Collection: 1594 Latin; 1594 Latin
Image: mta_23721_OBJ.png
Collection: European Illustrations of Native Americans
Subject: Indigenous peoples – Venezuela; Pearl oysters; Oystering; Pearl industry and trade; Indigenous traders; Dugout canoes; Sailing ships; Colonists

Media: mta_23721_OBJ.png