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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

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

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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,