Skip to content
Antiquarian, Rare & Collectable Books, and South East Asian Art & Antiques
Antiquarian, Rare & Collectable Books, and South East Asian Art & Antiques

Sir William Chambers, Designs of Chinese Buildings, Furniture, Dresses, Machines, and Utensils, 1st edition 1757

LAN1386
Sold out
Original price $0.00 - Original price $0.00
Original price
$0.00
$0.00 - $0.00
Current price $0.00

Sir William Chambers, Designs of Chinese Buildings, Furniture, Dresses, Machines, and Utensils, 1st edition 1757

RECENTLY SOLD

Designs of Chinese Buildings, Furniture, Dresses, Machines, and Utensils, Engraved by the best hands, from the Originals drawn in China by Mr. Chambers, Architect.to which is annexed, a Description of their Temples, Houses, Gardens, &c.

By Sir William Chambers

Published for the author also by Mess Dodsley et al 1st edition, London, 1757

21 engraved plates and plans by Fourdrinier, Sandby and Grignion, [x], 19pp, then French text including title-page, [viii], 19pp, recent attractive half red/brown morocco over marbled boards, the spine with gilt ruled raised bands, large gilt centres to compartments, one green, one red lettering piece.

A handsome volume.

Very faint remains of a number in bottom compartment; a few small tears in margins but with no loss; one plate lightly creased accross image; some dust soiling and scattered foxing; else a good-looking, uncut, unpressed copy with the unusual addition of the French text. [Harris, 113 and, for the French text, 114; Archer 38.1, 38.2]

The subscribers' list has some 162 names, amongst whom are The Prince of Wales, and numerous dukes, duchesses, earls, viscounts, lords; architects including John and James Adam, William Kent, James Payne, and John Vardy; Horace Walpole, et al.

The English and the French editions are almost identical: the plates are the same, the 19 pages of English text translated into 19 pages in French, and the title-page and dedication to George, Prince of Wales, also translated into French; only the list of subscribers is absent from the French edition.

The preface praises Chinese learning and accomplishments in politics and the arts. Chinese buildings have a singularity in their manner, a justness in their proportion, a simplicity, and sometimes even beauty, in their form which recommend them to our notice.

Dimensions: 
Elephant Folio, 578mm x 395mm x 25mm,