Mobilier

1878 · 58315 — Paris: V.L. Quetin ca. 1878. Oblong 4to. 11.5 x 7.75 in. 1 leaf lithograph title 94 i.e. 110 lithographed plates 1 leaf of index on blue-tinted paper stock. Quarter-green leather over pebbled green cloth raised bands embossed borders in blind gilt lettering on spine minor scuffing & wear rubbing bumping & wear to couple corners w/o ffep. still VG- copy w/ bright plates from the library of Victor Colas 256 13d Voltaires Paris notation on front marbled pastedown. A well-illustrated printer’s specimen book issued to depict the varieties of Second Empire French furniture featuring styles such as Louis XV Louis XVI and the decorative styles of Napoleon III’s designers. Victor Joseph Quetin 1822-1877 was an entrepreneurial printer who began producing these Furniture style books for Parisian craftsmen cabinetmakers and would sell these volumes of specimen sheets to manufacturers to show their prospective clients. The furnishings shown in these leaves encompass tables chairs toilettes some with bidets built in many with attached mirrors bed frames armoires buffets desks and desks with built-in bookcases. The index which is often missing provides an excellent quick reference to the styles types of furnishings as well as the specific plate. Demand increased as Paris & France underwent tremendous renovations and progress during the Second Empire and many of the furnishings inspired by the designs of Carlin Weisweiler and Riesener were presented to the public at the 1867 Exposition Universelle. His son Victor Leon Quetin b. 1852 would later in the 1870’s take up the family business released the albums under a new imprint of “V.L. Quetin†and also began issuing colour chromolithograph specimen catalogues of elaborate draperies bed curtains window treatments and casements. Also issued was a newspaper Journal le magasin de meubles†which offered details of the specimen catalogues he would assemble subscriptions and pricing with details on colour lithography and hand-colouring as well. His designs were dependent upon using a specialized machine which would enlarge reduce or even alter lithographic designs for clients. See: Victor Quetin De la papeterie a la lithographie D’Avoise a Meung-sur-Loire en passan par les Moulins de Paillard 16e-18e siecle; Alfred Lemercier La lithographie francaise de 1796 a 1896 et les arts qui s’y rattachent: manuel pratique p. 344. V.L. Quetin, hardcover