Lot 1091: 2 Design Portfolios: Owen Jones and Guerinet

Owen Jones: The Grammar of Ornament, and Guerinet Art Nouveau Portfolio: Le Document du Decorateur, each with decorative color plates. 1st item: Owen Jones (1809-1874), GRAMMAR OF ORNAMENT, French Edition (“Grammaire de L’Ornement par Owen Jones, Illustree D’Exemples Pris de Divers Styles d’Ornement”), first French edition, published London: Bernard Quaritch, 1865. 162 pp., 112 color plates. 13 1/ 4 in. x 9 1/8 in. Note: Owen Jones’s The Grammar of Ornament is regarded as one of the most influential works in the history of design, and a particular point of inspiration for William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Jones was educated at the Royal Academy and was a key figure in the development of Chromolithography and color printing. He helped design the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was known for his role in introducing Islamic Arts to the England. 2nd item: LE DOCUMENT DU DECORATEUR, Paris: Guerinet, c. 1910, folio of 28 Art Nouveau Heliotype plates, most with pochoir coloring, depicting various designs with floral, animal and insect motifs by Seguy, Rocher, Herbinier, Coquelle and others. The plates are numbered 1-28, with all 28 present. Plates 16 in. x 12 in. 

CONDITION:

Grammar of Ornament: Spine loose, with several pages and plates detached. Scattered corner creases and minimal handling wear to plates – plates in overall very good condition. Some wear and chipping to edges of covers, but the covers are in overall good condition. Previous owner’s name inscribed to flyleaf. Document Decorateur: Lacks covers, title page and plate list; there may have originally been more than 28 plates. Most plates are in very good condition with scattered light foxing and handling grime to margins; some scattered marginal chipping, occasional marks. Plate 8 has corner creasing and Plate 19 has notable chipping. Brown paper covers are heavily toned with chipping and losses.