Antique Winged Devil Figure Engraving Block

Description

Hand-cut metal engraving plate mounted on a wooden base, designed for relief printing and featuring an intricate winged, horned figure with long flowing hair holding a heart-topped wand or scepter. The figure sits above a grotesque, dragon-like beast wrapped in chains and ammunition belts, with a crossed sword and pistol beneath it, a skull, and an arrow-and-cross motif worked into the lower left corner. The composition fills the full plate and reads as a single continuous illustration meant to transfer as one printed image.

The plate is affixed to a wood block typical of letterpress and relief printing dies, with rounded corners and a raised metal surface that would have carried ink onto paper or card stock. Small engraved initials, reading roughly as “SF,” appear near the upper left of the design. The proportions and card-like format of the image suggest it was cut for reproducing a single illustrated card or plate rather than a book page.

The metal surface shows overall tarnishing and oxidation consistent with age, along with scattered light-toned residue settled into the recessed lines of the engraving. The lower portion of the plate shows mottled discoloration and small areas of surface corrosion, while the wood mount has minor edge wear from handling.