Paris, Henri Laurens, 1900. Folio (46.7 x 33.0 cm). Title leaf, explanatory leaf; 24 (chromo)lithographed plates [numbered 1-12; 1-12]. In original portfolio. Front board with large, gilt vignette and printed title.

A beautifully illustrated work by the French designer of luxury utensils and jewellery, Paul Follot (1877-1941). He "was one of the leaders of the Art Deco movement, and had huge influence in France and elsewhere. After the war he became head of the Pomone decorative art workshop of Le Bon Marché department store, making affordable but still elegant and high-quality work" (Wikipedia). This work consists of two suites of 12 plates with decorative objects. The first Bijouterie, in spectacular chromolithography with additional hand-colouring, shows jewellery designs with gemstones and gold elements; the second suite, Orfèvriere, deals with silver objects, in particular cutlery. A short title, Orfèvrerie et bijouterie modernes (i.e., shifting emphasis from jewellery to cutlery), printed on the front board. Some wear to board edges and the fore edge of the explanatory leaf; small chip in one plate edge, some scattered, mild, mostly marginal foxing, but generally clean and in all a very good, complete copy of this rarely seen work. Schneider-Henn, 330.