Les Arts Somptuaires: Histoire du Costume et de l'Ameublement et des Arts et Industries qui s'y Rattachent

Good set of this landmark in chromolithography.

With 324 beautiful chromolithographs mainly by Claudius Joseph Ciappori and Ferdinand Sere.

Complete in two volumes of plates and two volumes of text. With one chromolithographed frontispiece in each text volume, 159 and 163 chromolithographs in the plate volumes.

With a total of 324 beautiful chromolithograph plates illustrating the sumptuary or luxury arts of France and Europe from the 5th to the 17th century. A comprehensive survey of costumes, fashions, fabrics, jewelry, ivory carvings, armor, weapons, furniture, household equipment and tools, room interiors, and more. With Biblical and historical figures depicted in contemporary European costumes, many copied from old-master paintings, illuminated manuscripts and stained-glass windows of the era.

The designs mainly by Claudius Joseph Ciappori (Ciappori-Puche) and Ferdinand Sere, with others by Felix De Vigne, Auguste Racinet, Emile Beau, Gsell, etc.

Lithographed by Ferdinand Sere, Auguste Racinet, Emile Beau, Guillaume Regamey, Franz Kellerhoven, Thurwanger brothers, Auguste Giere, Ad. Levie and H. Moulin.

Chromolithographed under the direction of Hangard-Mauge.

Charles Louandre (1812-1882) was a French writer, editor, historian and bibliographer. He published histories of the working classes in medieval France, industry, agriculture, nobility, the law, etc.

Claudius Joseph Ciappori was a French painter, born in Marseille in 1822, died 1887 or 1888. A pupil of A. Aubert, Loubon, Ary Scheffer and Ingres. Exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1848 to 1880 with religious paintings and decorative design in oils, watercolours and drawing.

Ferdinand Sere (1818-1855) was a French art historian who also published Histoire de l'Imprimere (History of Printing) 1852, and Musée des rois de France. He died before Arts Somptuaires was completed.

"Les Arts somptuaires was an outstanding publication for its time by virtue of its scale, and also because its use of coated paper for the plates allowed the inks to sparkle on the page." M. Twyman, History of Chromolithography

A milestone in the history of chromolithographic printing and publishing. Many of the plates are finished with gold or feature rich gold backgrounds, making even the illuminated manuscript facsimiles shimmer like Byzantine ikons.

Bound in quarter brown leather with five raised bands and gilt titles, some sunning to spines, brown cloth boards with light stains, marble endpapers, all plates with tissue guards. Occasional marginal browning and spotting to the plates and text.

A really sumptuous collection of chromolithographic plates.