Histoire Artistique du Métal (History of Metal Art)
Paris: Librairie de l'Art, J. Rouam, Éditeur, 1881. First edition. Hardcover. Folio (15 1/4 x 11 1/2"). [4], 204pp. Uncut. Later half buckram over marbled paper covered boards, with gold lettering to spine. Top edge gilt. Original wrappers bound in, with red and black lettering to front cover. Title page in red and black lettering, within architectural border.
Lavishly illustrated throughout with 224 in-text and full-page engravings as well as 13 full-page eaux-fortes, René Ménard's "Histoire Artistique du Métal" is a pictorial survey of the history of metal art.
Chapters include metalwork in ancient Antiquity (Ancient Egypt, Phoenicia, Jewish antiquity, Assyria and Chaldea, Persia); in classical Antiquity (Greece, Etruscan civilization, Ancient Rome); in the Middle Ages (Byzantine empire, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, England); in modern times (jewellery, goldsmithing, enamel, weaponry, locksmithing, bronzesmithing, etc..).
Eaux-fortes by Leon Gaucherel, G. Greux, Henri Lefort, Nicolas Martinez, A. Lalauze, Eugène Abot, and H. Valentin.
Binding rubbed along edges. Previous owner's name in ink dated 1904 at upper right corner of front free endpaper. Front wrap darkened along fore-edge. Moderate foxing throughout. Text in French. Binding in overall good-, interior in good to very good condition. g- to vg. Item #43970
Price: $90.00