Modern Design in Jewellery and Fans

London: Offices of "The Studio, 1902. First Edition. Half Morocco. Cloth boards. Near Fine. A great overview of Art Nouveau design contemporaneous with the heyday of the style, and with designers such as Rene Lalique, Mucha, Georges Fouquet, Eugene Grasset, Boutet de Monvel, Georges de Feure, Charles MacIntosh, and a slew of women designers -- one might be surprised at how many women were among the ranks of recognized designers in the style. Was it a bias, though, that these women are not among the most recognizable names to us, as admittedly non-jewelry experts? Sections cover French, British, Austrian German, Belgian and Danish designs -- each nation is treated separately, in its own chapter, notwithstanding the international nature of the Art Nouveau style that didn't necessarily conform to national boundaries in how it was expressed. 4to. 29 by 22 cm. 123 plates, of which 17 are full color. Color prints are sometimes mounted, other times, on a glossy paper different from the rest of the leaves. The book has a complicated pagination and plate count, with each article beginning the pagination anew, and a few plate numbers skipped, but we believe the work is complete. So here is our pagination, admittedly eccentric in its rendering, as is the actual pagination of the book: 6, 7, [1], 36 plates, 4 of which are in color; 10, numbered plates up to 52, 11 of which are in color, but no Plate 1, and a second series of plates numbered up to 8; 4,1 color plate; 8, 8 plates, one of which is in color; 4, plates numbered 2 to 9 (we believe there wasn't a Plate 1); 3, [1], 8 plates. Green morocco spine with raised bands and gilt decoration and gilt lettering for title, etc. Without ads of the original issue. Some foxing of the early text leaves, including the title, but typical of the paper stock used by the Studio in its book publications. Otherwise, tight, clean -- a beautiful copy. (Inventory #: 007989)