Fine Books and Manuscripts

Lot #603:

Oeuvres d’architecture, contentant des edifices publics, des palais, jardins, tombeaux, cariatides, plafonds, lambris, panneaux, fontaines, etc.

[Cuvillies, Francois (1695–1768). Oeuvres d’architecture, contentant des edifices publics, des palais, jardins, tombeaux, cariatides, plafonds, lambris, panneaux, fontaines, etc. Paris and Munich, 1770]. 20 suites (or “livres”) of plates, comprising of 110 engraved plates (394 x 260 mm), including engraved title-pages, envisioning hundreds of examples of garden and public fountains, ornate ironwork gates and railings, furniture, paneling, torchières; also with plans for arches, doorways, frames and moldings, fireplaces, beds, and “ornaments.” Bound into a single folio of 19th century half calf over marbled boards, red morocco spine label titled in gilt, marbled endpapers. Signatures complete and in sequential order; A-B6, C7, D-H6, I7, K-M4, N5, O4, P-V6. Front board detached but present, rear joints tired, plate margins with occasional dust soiling or toning; strong impressions of this monumental work on Rocco architecture. Provenance: Ex libris of Ogden Codman Jr. affixed to front pastedown, below it is another printed label “Loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Ogden Codman.” Direct from the library of the late architect, Thomas Thomas. Codman Jr. is perhaps best remembered as Edith Wharton’s co-author of the landmark work ‘The Decoration of Houses’ (1897).