Framed and Pressed French Alguier Specimens from the 19th Century

This is a set of late 19th-century French Alguier (Herbier) specimens of pressed seaweed, mounted and framed. The specimens were collected from oceans and seas around the world and were originally part of a two-volume collection called "Marine Plante," which was purchased in France. Similar to an herbier, which is a collection of plant specimens, an alguier is a collection of seaweeds.

During the late 19th century, collecting and preserving seaweed samples became a popular pastime among affluent Europeans. These collectors spent many hours carefully drying, pressing, and mounting the specimens they found on their travels. These framed and pressed specimens are an exquisite example of this historical trend.

Measures: 16" x 13"