An invaluable resource on French furniture, interiors, and household
objects, drawn from antique pattern books, swatch books, and
manufacturers' and retailers' catalogues.
For centuries, French
furniture, textiles, ceramics, and glassware set the highest standards
of fine design in the decorative arts. Sevres porcelain, Gobelins
tapestries, and Baccarat crystal are synonymous with a taste for the
good things in life, as are traditional printed cottons from Provence,
silks from Lyons, glass by Galle and Daum, and furniture and interiors
by Guimard and Ruhlmann.
This profusely illustrated reference offers
a panoply of original sketches, engravings, and printed patterns,
representing French interior design and decoration from the Baroque,
Rococo, Louis XVI, and Empire periods through the nineteenth century to
Art Deco and Modernism in the twentieth century. The wealth of artistry
and technical ingenuity illustrated here dates back to 1685, when
Andre-Charles Boulle's furniture designs for the palace of Versailles
were published as engravings. Later, the great international exhibitions
held in Paris not only defined the styles of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and
International Modernism but also showcased the work of such giants of
the decorative arts as Ruhlmann, Majorelle, and Lalique.
This
unrivaled resource, now republished in a compact format, will provide a
wealth of ideas and inspiration for designers, restorers, and interior
decorators. 600+ designs and patterns in color and black-and-white.