Theodoor van Erp - Barabudur. Architectural description. - 1931

Theodoor van Erp: Barabudur. Architectural description. The Hague: M. Nijhoff 1931. 50 x 40.5 cm.
Dutch/English edition, specially made for the English-speaking market; 1 of 100 copies, this is number 9.
Contents: 250 plates, consisting of 105 plans and drawings on 48 plates [of which 8 are fold-out] + 312 photographic images on 202 plates. All housed in a custom-made linen-covered portfolio.

This 'Barabudur' has not been offered before on Catawiki and worldwide it is not sold as such.

'Theodoor van Erp (Ambon, March 26, 1874 – Laren (North Holland), May 7, 1958) was the first restorer of the Borobudur temple in Indonesia between 1907 and 1911 (...) The first restoration of Borobudur by Van Erp in 1907-1911 was mainly aimed at preventing further decay. There was not yet any experience with restoring monuments of such magnitude.
Under the inspired leadership of Van Erp, with the cooperation of many, including the skilled photographer J.J. de Vink, the Javanese draftsmen M Kartodisastro and M Karto, several local employees, a unique restoration was achieved (...)
Photos before and after the restoration show the large difference. Many niches could be rebuilt. Not all, because restoration was done only with original fragments. Through all these provisions it was possible, from certain vantage points, to recover the silhouette line that determines the image of Borobudur.
Van Erp also produced a series of about 2,000 unique and now irreplaceable photos of reliefs and of the monument. In 1931, as a complement to the monograph edited by N.J. Krom 'Beschrijving van de Barabudur - Archeologische beschrijving' (1920), a second monograph appeared, now by Van Erp: 'Beschrijving van de Barabudur - Bouwkundige beschrijving'. This monograph, produced in only 215 copies, is still regarded as a unique and majestic work.'

Shipping by registered and insured mail. Weight ca. 12 kg.