Maison Prunier Restaurant Menus 1938 by Maison Prunier & Méheut, Matharin - 1938

MAISON PRUNIER and MÉHEUT, Mathurin [artist]. Nine Maison Prunier dîner menus dated 'Septembre 1938" each bifolium (360x250mm) stiff cream card, red and black lettered, [4]pp. Engraved and printed by E. Desfossés Néogravure, Paris. Near Fine.

MAISON PRUNIER and MÉHEUT, Mathurin [artist]

[MENUS] Maison Prunier [London] September 1938

nine dîner menus & one Après le Théâtre Menu

London: Maison Prunier, September 1938.

Nine Maison Prunier dîner menus dated 'Septembre 1938" each bifolium (360x250mm) stiff cream card, red and black lettered, [4]pp. Engraved and printed by E. Desfossés Néogravure, Paris.

All are near fine; and probably unused. Some faint edge-wear and soiling but otherwise remarkably crisp and bright.

The covers are illustrated in colour by Mathurin Méheut and (all fishing scenes in Brittany) are entitled:

Retour de Peche a les Sturgeon Les Callonges (Charente Inferieure)

Sardiniers demaillant La Sardine Baie de Douarnenez (Finistere)

Pecheurs de l'ile de Sieck relevante (?) casiers a homard (Finistere)

Concarneau arrivee d'un langoustier

Saint Guenole

Pecheurs de crevettes et de coquilles Mont St Michel (Manche)

Douarnenez filles d'usines attendant l'arrivale des barques

Ancienne pecheurs (?)

Yport (Seine inferieure) (?)

Page [2] provides 'a few explanations about some French names on the Menu'. Page [3] is the Dîner menu which includes an impressive raw bar of oysters French and English, scallops, shrimps, clams, salmon and caviar both sevruga and oscieta. Page [4] is the wine list, predominantly French, listing some excellent late 19th and early 20th century vintages and a stunning list of vintage Champagne.

The Après le Théâtre menu is undated but ca.1938 (as the prices are the same as on the menus); bifolium stiff cream decorated card (185x138mm) red and black lettered [4]pp. Engraved and printed by E Desfossés-Néogravure, Paris. The cover illustration, this time in black and white, is again by Mathurin Méheut entitled "Vanneuses morbihannaises"

Near Fine; not creased or folded, so unused; bottom corners lightly creased faint edge-wear and imperceptible soiling.

Mathurin Méheut (1882-1958) was a French painter, ceramist, engraver, and etcher based in Brittany best known for his depictions of Breton scenes, the sea, and nature. He also had a career as an interior designer and often experimented with both sketch and reproduction technique. During the 1930s he was highly sought after by publishers for book illustration. He also illustrated Madame Prunier's Fish Cookery Book also published in 1938.

Maison Prunier was in 1938 the place to dine for anyone who was anyone in London. Maison Prunier was originally established by the Prunier family in Paris in 1872. The London branch was opened in 1934 and was an instant success. A favourite of Edward VII and Wallis Simpson before their marriage and feted in the society pages almost daily. Renowned for its fish, and its wine cellars.

An uncommonly fine set of ephemeral menus from the premier restaurant in London, and one of the world's great fish restaurants between the wars.

§ OCLC records only 2 menus from 1940 held at the British Library; no holdings otherwise recorded.