Animals in Chinese Art A Collection of Examples Selected & Described by H. D'Ardenne de Tizac with a Preface by Roger Fry
London: Benn Brothers Limited, 1923. Illustrated with 50 plates, many b&w photogravure images and 20 or so in color. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Edition limited to 250 copies, of which this is #98. Folio (book measures 13" x 17" (32.5 cm. x 42 cm.)). Unpaginated. Three page introduction by Roger Fry. A total 50 plates reproducing in photogravure rich photographs of artifacts, each preceded by a title page offering measurements, materials used in composition, provenance, etc. Publisher's maroon cloth with gilt device on cover, gilt lettering on spine. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Slight wear to spine head and some insignificant edgewear, consistent with the book's age. Generally, a well-preserved copy. Very Good+. Item #1348 From 1905 to 1933, Henri D'Ardenne de Tizac directed the Musee Cernuschi. During that tenure he established a format for regular exhibitions and, importantly, a collections policy, whereby acquisitions were actively pursued. This volume represents many artifacts in the Cernuschi and many as identified in private hands. One can assume Tizac was possibly encouraging the bequest of those items to his museum by lavishing attention on them. The book is a sumptuous production realized in a format fittingly large and attractive. Uncommon.
Printed at the Pelican Press. Laid in is a tri-fold promotional card, circa 1960, from the P. C. Lu and Co. shop in Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel. The card delineates the Chinese dynasties.
Price: $750.00