Antique Kip Knyff Cashiobury Hertfordshire Birds Eye View Engraving Framed

A fine antique hand-coloured aerial bird's-eye-view engraving titled "Cashiobury in Hartfordshire", in the classic style of Johannes Kip and Leonard Knyff, c.1707 or later edition.

The view shows the great house at the centre of an elaborate formal parterre garden, surrounded by avenues, plantations and the wider estate — the kind of comprehensive aerial estate plan that Kip and Knyff pioneered in their landmark Britannia Illustrata (1707) and subsequent editions of Le Nouveau Theatre de la Grande Bretagne. These views are amongst the most important visual records of the great English country houses at the height of the formal garden era.

Hand-coloured in the period style, presented in a quality gilt frame.

PROVENANCE: The verso retains a trade label from "Ralph and Bruce Moss Antiques, 26 Whitehorse Street, Baldock, Hertfordshire" — a well-known Hertfordshire antique dealership established in the 1980s.

Historical significance: Cashiobury House near Watford was the principal seat of the Earls of Essex from the mid-16th century, with formal gardens designed by Moses Cook (head gardener to the first Earl). The house and gardens evolved through several iterations before the house was finally demolished in 1922. Pre-demolition views, and particularly Kip-style bird's-eye views showing the original formal landscaping, are amongst the most desirable Hertfordshire prints.

Frame and glazing in good condition; the print itself with toning consistent with age.

Dimensions: Framed approximately 33 x 30 cm.

From a private UK collection. Carefully packed and dispatched via insured tracked service.