[Rarebooks] Rare 1853 Desert / Shakespere / Ceramic Book

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

    ~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~

[Binns, Richard W.] "SHAKSPERE'S MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, WITH 
ILLUSTRATIONS, AS DESIGNED AND MODELLED BY W. BOYTON KIRK, Esq., FOR A 
DESERT SERVICE MANUFACTURED BY MESSRS. KERR, BINNS, AND COMPANY...ROYAL 
WORCESTER PORCELAIN WORKS, WORCESTER...FOR THE DUBLIN GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1853"

Dublin; Printed at the University Press for James McGlashan: 1853.

An intriguing and delightful item. This astonishing and elaborate Victorian 
desert service, composed of carefully modeled figures from the play and a 
magnificent tiered centerpiece, was a unique production, made especially 
for the Great Exhibition in Dublin in 1853. The book illustrates the pieces 
from the service in muted chromo plates, and has 3 pages of text discussing 
the project; the rest of the text is a reprinting of the play itself.

Solon has a very interesting note about the book and the service, which we 
quote in full-

"Although issued under the joint names of the members of the firm, this 
volume was actually prepared at the suggestion and under the direction of 
Mr. Binns. He himself made the general arrangement, and designed the forms 
and decorations of this desert service, remarkable on many accounts. Made 
for the Dublin exhibition, it claimed to have been manufactured from 
materials chiefly found in Ireland; an Irish sculptor of great talent had 
been entrusted with the execution of the models. The lithographic plates, 
reproducing the groups and figures which entered into the composition, do 
not give enough credit to the work of Boyton Kirk, as one may judge from 
the few examples preserved in the Worcester Museum. Porcelains, like books, 
obey their destiny. The service, having been sold after the exhibition, was 
soon lost sight of. All traces of it were gone when, many years afterwards, 
Mr. Binns chanced to come across a few of the pieces, badly damaged, but 
probably the only remnant of what had been one of the most creditable and 
costly productions of the Royal Porcelain Works. They were immediately 
acquired and deposited in the museum, where they stand as an excellent 
illustration of the revival of ceramic art in England".

As might be expected, this is a somewhat rare item; OCLC locates only a 
microfilm copy.

Hardcover. 7"x10", 35 pages, 13 chromolithographed plates, including a 
double-page plate, each illustrating one of the figures, the double-page 
plate illustrating the elaborate centerpiece. Title page printed in red & 
black. Original green coarse-grained cloth with elaborate gilt cover 
decorations on both the front and back showing a figure from the service, 
surrounded by a border of flowers; gilt spine title. Covers with some soil, 
minor fading, tips bumped, etc. Contents with some sporadic minor light 
spotting.

Presentation plate glued to the front pastedown, thanking the publisher for 
presenting a copy to each member of the Great Industrial Exhibition 
Committee.  Tipped-in halfsheet from Kerr & Co. stating- "Messrs. W.H. Kerr 
and Co. Wish to state, that in preparing their Productions for "The Great 
Industrial Exhibition of Ireland", they have made it their special object 
to promote, as much as possible, the intention of its liberal Founder, by 
bringing native talent and the industrial resources of the country to bear 
in their Manufacture. In producing Porcelain from Irish materials they 
have, through the very kind assistance of Sir R. Kane, succeeded beyond 
their most sanguine expectations". [04857] $1,250.00

Illustrations- <http://www.joslinhall.com/images/th-04857.jpg>

~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~<|>~




JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
Post Office Box 516, Concord, Massachusetts 01742 USA
telephone (617) 492-5367
email <office at joslinhall.com>;
~~
Our full-service website features 82 separate subject
categories, is updated daily and has full search
capabilities. http://www.joslinhall.com
~~
Subscribe to our free email News List and get special
discounts and offers on selected books! Send e-mail to
<JHRBnews- at joslinhall.com>; and put the word
"subscribe" (without quotes) in the Subject line of your note.
~~
Check out our "Featured Book"
http://www.joslinhall.com/today1.htm
~~

TERMS:
All payments must be in U.S. funds and negotiable through a U.S. bank;
We accept checks, money orders, American Express, Visa and Mastercard.
Books may be reserved pending payment; Institutions may be billed;
Standard courtesies to institutions and the trade; Postage charges
are $5.00 for the first book, and $1.50 for each additional book.
Shipments outside the U.S. will be billed at cost. We accept returns
if we are notified within ten days of your receipt of the books-please
ask for full instructions and terms. Massachusetts residents must add
5% state sales tax.

As members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of
America we are committed to upholding high professional
standards and making sure your bookbuying experience is
enjoyable.

Subscribe to the free Rare Books Mailing List
http://www.rarebooksmailinglist.com