(FURNITURE) ~ Sièges. [Paris: Guilmard and others, 1860s].
Oblong folio (247 × 350 mm), 79 hand coloured lithographed plates, plus several slightly smaller tinted lithographs neatly pasted to some versos, three pencil designs and several tracings. Some spotting, heavier to some plates, though generally light, old waterstain to upper margins and some corners. Contemporary green cloth, upper cover lettered in gilt. Rubbed, corners worn.
A substantial collection of plates depicting upholstered chairs, sofas, stools and other seats, evidently a maker’s or vendor’s collection with additional tracings and drawings. Most are taken from the bimonthly journal Le Garde-meuble ancien et moderne with others from L’ameublement, Le Magasin de meuble and Le Moniteur de l’ameublement and they include a range of Second Empire styles together with fashionable reproductions of earlier styles. Carved wood (varnished, lacquered, gilt or ‘exotype’) is usually paired with elaborate upholstery in decorative fabrics trimmed with passmenterie. Makers and suppliers are often mentioned.