Antique Sea Charts
Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900

Close-ups

Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900, close-up 1Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900, close-up 2Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900, close-up 3Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900, close-up 4Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900, close-up 5Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900, close-up 6

Framed and on the wall

Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900, shown framed

Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the piece could look; it is sold unframed unless the description says otherwise.

Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900

$1,400

€1,250 · £1,060

Original print, not a reproduction.

Ask a question

Ships worldwide from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked. 14-day returns. To buy, use Ask a question and we will reserve it for you.

Date
1900
Sheet size
23.6 × 49.2 in (60 × 125 cm)
Condition
Good. Good overall condition. Central vertical fold present, as issued. Light surface wear and minor age-related toning consistent with use as a schoolplate.
Collection
Harbours & ports
Era
1850 and after, Steam and steel
Stock no.
f_48054672

Large Lighthouse Rescue Schoolplate, Josef Klemm Chromolithograph, c.1900

Description:

Impressive and visually striking educational wall chart depicting a lighthouse and a dramatic coastal rescue at sea, produced as a chromolithographic schoolplate by Josef Klemm and published in Leipzig by Otto Wachsmuth around 1900.

The central scene shows a coordinated maritime rescue operation along a windswept shoreline, with lifeboats, rescue crews, signaling devices, and the lighthouse prominently anchoring the composition. Flanking illustrations provide architectural views of the lighthouse, including a detailed sectional diagram revealing its internal structure. This combination of narrative imagery and technical explanation was characteristic of late 19th- and early 20th-century educational wall charts, designed to communicate modern technology, safety, and engineering to a broad audience.

Printed in rich, softly muted chromolithographic colors, the plate balances instructional clarity with strong decorative appeal. Due to their large size and heavy classroom use, such schoolplates are increasingly scarce in good condition and have become highly sought after by interior designers and collectors of scientific and maritime imagery.

With its panoramic scale and engaging subject matter, this piece works exceptionally well as a statement wall object in coastal interiors, libraries, studies, or hospitality settings.

Approximate size: ca. 65 × 125 cm.

Condition report:

Good overall condition. Central vertical fold present, as issued. Light surface wear and minor age-related toning consistent with use as a schoolplate.

Framing tips:

This plate benefits from simple, understated framing to let the imagery dominate. A slim black or dark oak frame with no mat, or a very narrow off-white border, works well. For interiors, float-mounting behind museum glass gives an authentic educational-wall-chart look.

Technique: chromolithography

Maker: Josef Klemm, Leipzig, ca. 1900