L'Art De Vivre: Decorative Arts and Design in France 1789-1989.

New York, NY Vendome Press, 1989. Hardcover First Ed, unstated. First Ed, unstated. Near Fine in Near Fine DJ: Both book and DJ show only minute indications of use. Book shows just a hint of wear to the extremities; else flawless; binding square and secure; text clean. DJ shows a bit of wear at the head of the back strip and just a touch at the upper corner tips; else only the mildest rubbing; price unclipped; mylar-protected. Overall, very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. Folio. 256pp. 256 pages with 446 illustrations, most in color. Preface by François Mathey. Director's foreword by Dianne H. Pilgrim. Published on the occasion of the exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York NY March 30-August 6, 1989.Edited by Nancy Aakre. Distributed in the USA and Canada by Rizzoli International. Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York. Hardback with DJ. This lavish book was produced in conjunction with an exhibition held at the Cooper-Hewitt to commemorate the bicentennial of the French Revolution. It surveys the many changes in the "arts of living" since the Revolution by highlighting the development of design, industry, and commercialism in response to both aristocratic tastemakers and bourgeois demands. Each chapter, written by a specialist in the field, covers a special aspect of French design. Those of particular interest discuss the impact of world expositions on French arts, the development of department stores, interior design, and dining. Though one could wish that the chapter on fashion had taken the historical survey approach of the others and that the illustrations were more fully integrated into the text, this is an excellent book that will fill a gap in most decorative arts collections.