THE KERAMIC ART OF JAPAN BY AUDSLEY & BOWES-TWO VOLUMES

THE KERAMIC ART OF JAPAN BY GEORGE ASHDOWN AUDSLEY AND LORD JAMES BOWES

Circa 1875

Publishers: Henry Sotheran, London & Liverpool
Stock Number: 01549/aut10
Price: £1100

Hardcovers. 2 Volumes. Elephant Folios, (12 inches x 16 inches),Vol. I: (ii) (viii) LXII, 62 (viii) (ii), plus 12 separate pages of lithographed plates, numerous illustrations etc. in text, Vol. II: comprises fifty-one full page plates (number I – LI, versos blank) with one accompanying unpaginated leaf of text per plate, + four leaves of text on “Marks and Monograms” with four accompanying four black and white plates at rear (a total of 204pp. in this volume thus). Contemporary Red morocco binding, lettered and pictorially stamped in gilt with a kiku-mon, and all edges gilt. Rubricrated titlepage, headings, etc. A superb example of Victorian book design and production. This was the first major study in English of Japanese ceramic art, which attempted the then unique task of classifying all known varieties of the porcelain of Japan. The author, George Audsley, was a well-known architect and authority on the decorative arts, particularly those of Japan, as was Bowes, who went on to write a number of works on the subject. The great majority of plates in “The Keramic Art of Japan” are full colour chromolithographs (produced by the art-printers Firmin-Didot et Cie, of Paris) and show a quality – particularly in the reproduction of the gilt work – unrivalled in most quality art books today. It is truly not an overstatement to say that each of the plates is an artwork in itself. As always the title page bears the date 1875, whereas the Preface is dated 1879, presumably a reflection of the amount of time that it took to bring this magnificent work into print. The text begins with a general study of Japanese Art, then a specific essay on Japanese Ceramics, followed by essays on Hizen Wares, Satsuma Faience, Kioto Wares, Kaga Wares, and Owari Wares, followed by a list of examples, linking each type to a number of the plates. The second volume, as described previously, is effectively a “plates” volume, with specific examples of the works of the different schools. Over all a beautiful set of this exceptional work. This set has the bookplate of Horatio Noble Pym on each front pastedown.