Golfe De Mandaya Sea Chart by Joseph Roux, 1764

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Golfe de Mandaya Sea Chart by Joseph Roux, Ottoman Turkey, c.1764 This elegant and highly decorative 18th-century sea chart titled … Read more Golfe de Mandaya Sea Chart by Joseph Roux, Ottoman Turkey, c.1764 This elegant and highly decorative 18th-century sea chart titled “Golfe de Mandaya” depicts the Gulf of Mandalya, today known as Güllük Bay, located along the southwestern coast of modern-day Turkey. The chart was engraved by the celebrated French hydrographer Joseph Roux and published in Marseille around 1764 as part of his renowned maritime atlas Recueil des principaux plans des ports et rades de la mer Méditerranée. Roux charts are among the most visually distinctive and collectible maritime engravings of the 18th century. Produced during the golden age of Mediterranean navigation, they combined practical nautical information with an elegant graphic style that appealed to both sailors and wealthy patrons. The present example focuses on a sheltered Ottoman harbor along the Anatolian coast, identified here as “Natolie Cassady” within the Gulf of Mandaya. The composition is beautifully minimalist and highly balanced. Fine radiating compass lines extend across the bay from a central fleur-de-lis compass marker, while delicately shaded coastlines define the surrounding inlets and islands. Depth soundings, anchorage indications, and coastal notations provide navigational detail for mariners navigating the eastern Mediterranean during the Ottoman period. The subtle original hand coloring in pale blue and ochre enhances the sculptural quality of the coastline and gives the chart exceptional decorative appeal. Joseph Roux (1725–1793) was one of France’s most important hydrographers and marine chart publishers. Working in Marseille, he produced nautical atlases that were widely used by merchants, naval officers, and navigators throughout the Mediterranean. Today, Roux charts are especially admired for their aesthetic purity, elegant engraving, and strong visual impact, making them highly desirable among collectors of maritime art and antique cartography. This chart works exceptionally well as a decorative object because of its restrained composition and almost modern graphic quality. It pairs beautifully with coastal, Mediterranean, Ottoman, or minimalist interiors and displays particularly well either individually or grouped with related nautical charts. Condition: Good antique condition with age-related toning and light handling wear. Minor foxing and small marginal imperfections consistent with age. Original hand coloring remains attractive and well preserved. Strong engraved impression throughout. Framing tips: Particularly effective in a dark walnut, black, or natural oak frame with a wide ivory mat for a clean maritime presentation. Also highly suitable for modern interiors due to the chart’s elegant simplicity. Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring Maker: Joseph Roux, Marseille, circa 1764 Note: The map is an original antique engraving, not a reproduction. All items we offer are authentic period works of art over 100 years old. The pieces are sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale. See less