BECCAFUMI, Domenico [Mecarino, or Mecuccio]. [La ricerca e lo sfruttamento dei metalli]. [Siena, c. 1525-40].
p.o.a.
The extremely rare and complete suite of 10 alchemical and metallurgical woodcuts by Domenico Beccafumi, an important mannerist figure and one of the last pure stylists of the Sienese school.
Outstanding in design and iconography, this exceptional suite of woodcuts, here preserved in deep and exceptionally strong impressions, is virtually unknown on the market.
BULLET, Pierre, Verschyde Schoorsteen Mantels nieulykx geinventeert. Amsterdam, Justus Danckerts, [c. 1690].
[bound with:] LE PAUTRE, Jean. Cheminees a la Moderne inventees. Amsterdam, F. de Wit, [c. 1700].
[bound with:] DECKER, Paul, the elder. [Designs of fireplaces and ornamental wall décor]. [n.p., n.d., c. 1708].
£2850
Three complete suites of ornamental fireplace designs, with the plates in excellent impressions.
GUIDOTTI, Alberto. Metodo facile per formare qualunque sia sorta di vernici della Cina, e del Giappone praticato in Francia, ed in Inghilterra … Rimini, Giacomo Marsoner, 1784.
£550
An attractive copy, bound in contemporary carta rustica, of the second edition of Guidotti’s scarce guide to the preparation of Chinese and Japanese lacquer and other varnishes.
Divided into three books the work describes the use and preparation of copal and amber, methods of making various colours, varnishes for paintings, metal, clocks, varnishes to preserve insects from putrefaction, etc. The second book is on various methods of gilding; the third is a little book of secrets, including medicinal.
JETTMAR, Rudolf. Acht Radierungen zu Byron’s Kain. Vienna, Gesellschaft für verfielfältigende Kunst, 1920.
£5500
Jettmar’s powerful suite of eight superb etchings illustrating Byron’s Cain and, together with Die Stunden der Nacht (1910) and Prometheus (1916), his most famous engraved graphic work.
[LATOMUS, Sigismund, publisher]. Schön newes Modelbuch,von sechshundert außerwehlten künstlichen so wol Italienischen, Frantzösischen, Niederländischen, Engeländischen als Teutschen Modeln, allen Seydenstickern, Nähterin und ... Weibspersonen zu Nutz zugerichtet. Un beau et nouveau livre a patrons, enrichie des six cents belles pour traitures et patrons exquises. Frankfurt, Sigismund Latomus [Meurer], 1623.
£25,000
A very good copy in its original binding of what may be the final printing of this superb Baroque Model book with woodcut lace patterns for needle work, with the artistic quality and intricacy of the designs much surpassing those presented in Johann Siebmacher’s contemporary publication, which used copper engravings.
‘During the sixteenth century, the technique of lacemaking was freed from a woven foundation, and became a fabric in its own right. A number of notable pattern books for both needle and bobbin lace were published in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries and these illustrate some of the pictorial designs that became possible using true lace techniques. Examples of lace exist which attest to the fact that these pattern books provided inspiration to numerous lace makers’ (Melinda Watt, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003, online).
All issues or editions of this work are extremely rare, and recorded in a very small number only.
ORLANDI, Orazio. Le Nozze di Paride ed Elena rappresentate in un vaso antico del museo del signor Tommaso Jenkins gentiluomo inglese. Rome, Giovanni Zempel, 1775.
£2500
Orazio Orlandi’s very rare study of the so-called ‘Jenkins vase’, a marble vase incorporating an ancient sculptured well-head showing the marriage of Paris and Helen attended by Eros and the Muses, and a superb example of 18th-century antiquarian craze, resulting in the creation of a ‘modern’ concoction, with a beautiful, ancient relic as its centerpiece.
SAENZ Diez, Martín Diego. Manual de joyeros, con la teorica y practica para con brevedad sacar la cuenta del valor en que se venden, y compran los diamantes, y demas piedras preciosas. Y tambien el oro y la plata … Madrid, Antonio de Sancha, 1781.
£3500
Very scarce first edition of the first Spanish manual on jewellery and precious stones and diamonds, including practical examples for calculation of price and value.
The first section of the work describes the various precious stones and gemstones, their natural occurrences, natural properties, and areas of their mining. Included are notes about their use throughout history, and some famous pieces.
Intended as a handbook for commerce, the larger part of the work consists of tables, which contain calculations regarding the value of precious stones according to size and weight in carats, as well as the value of gold and silver according to weight.
Martín Diego Saenz Diez was a merchant in precious metals, semi-precious and precious stones, and affiliated to the Spanish crown as a merchant.
UBOLDO, Ambrogio. Descrizione degli Elmi posseduti da Ambrogio Uboldo, nobile de Villareggio … precedono alcune notizie sull’uso, sulla forma, ecc., degli elmi nel medio evo e nei tempi anteriori e posteriori ad esso. Con tavole litografiche. Milan, Giuseppe Crespi, 1841.
[with:] UBOLDO, Ambrogio. Descrizione degli scudi posseduti da Ambrogio Uboldo, nobile de Villareggio… precedono alcune notizie sull’uso, sulla forma, ecc. degli scudi nel medio evo e nei tempi anteriori e posteriori ad esso. Con Tavole litografiche. Milan, Crespi and Pagnoni, 1841.
£2750
Attractive copies of the two major illustrated works on the ‘Armeria Uboldo’, the Italian financier and former military officer’s superb collection of ancient helmets and shields.