Pochoir bindings (1 Ergebnisse)

260 x 203 mm. (10 1/4 x 8"). [44] leaves, plates. In a special binding of deep green havana morocco by René Kieffer, covers blind-stamped with dramatically drooping and twining foliate swags studded with roses over interlacing curved rows of stars, smooth spine blind-stamped with a similar swag, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Printed paper wrappers bound in (joints repaired, as well as portions of the top and bottom of the spine, with some of the gilt titling obscured). With elaborate borders and vignettes and 20 FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS of saints by Auguste Henri Thomas, ALL VIBRANTLY COLORED IN POCHOIR. With a suite of 37 ADDITIONAL PLATES in black. The binding obviously worked on, but still quite intriguing, and the interior of the book in very fine condition, extremely clean and fresh, with vibrant illustrations. This is the stylish, brilliantly colored Art Deco Kieffer edition of Gourmont's poetic roll call of female saints. Our binder and publisher Kieffer (1875-1963) was in the first class of students to graduate from the École Étienne, where he concentrated on becoming a doreur, learning to tool gold designs in the well-established style. (The present binding, of course, is without gilt decoration, but, in any case, its elaborate blind design, which may have been applied with one large stamp, is of considerable interest.) After leaving school, he worked for Chambolle-Duru until 1898, when he established his own studio. According to Duncan & De Bartha, he "became a disciple of Marius Michel, moving gradually away from his traditional training towards a more emblematic and modern style." He would become one of the most innovative and progressive binders in Paris in the 20th century. In 1909, he expanded into publishing, creating luxury illustrated editions of which he oversaw every detail. As avant-garde in his publishing as in his binding, he produced editions of the works of many bold contemporary authors, especially those associated with the publishing house Mercure de France, one of the co-founders of which was the author of the present work, French Symbolist writer Remy de Gourmont (1858-1915). First published in 1898, "Les Saintes du Paradis," is made up of brief poems about 20 female saints (one of those poems, on St. Natalie, was not included in the original edition and appears here for the first time). The present edition pairs each poetic vignette with a most attractive Art Deco depiction of the corresponding saint by the illustrator Auguste Henri Thomas. The saints are depicted as graceful figures, with crisp and almost geometric linework, filled in with rich and bright pochoir coloring. No. 21 OF 30 COPIES on Japon with an additional suite of prints in black (and 20 with an original watercolor, and 500 on velin de cuve). …