Lot 170: BÉRAIN, Jean (1640-1711). Ornemens inventez par J. Berain. [Paris:] Et se

BÉRAIN, Jean (1640-1711). Ornemens inventez par J. Berain. [Paris:] Et se vendent chez Monsieur Thuret, aux galleries du Louvre, [1709?]. Early edition of the influential decorative designs of Bérain, the premier designer and decorator in the age of Louis XIV. Jean Bérain began his career as an engraver, but quickly rose to a position of first rank as a designer for the king…[his designs] became models of ornamentation for the style of Louis XIV. In the present copy, the engraved title bears the imprint of Thuret, and the frontispiece portrait by Suzanne Elisabeth Silvestre and Claude Duflos after Joseph Vivien is signed Suzanna Silvestre effigies sculp. an. 1711 and Cl. Duflos sculp. 1709. The number of plates differs slightly depending on the edition. Berlin Kat. 343; Milliard French 19 (this edition, citing 134 plates on 128 leaves). Folio (540 x 394mm). Engraved title; frontispiece portrait of Bérain; 135 plates on 129 leaves, of which 2 are double-paged, of Bérain’s decorative designs (occasional light spotting and toning). Contemporary Dutch red morocco gilt, black morocco titling piece, all edges gilt (spine and extremities worn).

D.R. Abdy (bookplate).