[Rarebooks] Turn, Turn, Turn... (1719)

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

One of the 17th Century's
Most Celebrated and Fantastic Cabinets-

Nicholas Grollier de Serviere.

"Recueil d'Ouvrages Curieux de Mathematique et de Mecanique, ou
Description du Cabinet de Monsieur Grollier de Serviere..."

Lyon; David Forey: 1719.

A descriptive and illustrated catalog of the marvelous and curious
mechanical models and ivory turnings constructed by Nicholas Grollier de
Serviere, a soldier, turner, inventor and the author's father. Nicolas
Grollier de Serviere (1596-1689), a descendant of Jean Grolier, was indeed
a multi-talented man. In his youth he was a soldier and engineer, serving
in Flanders, Germany, Italy and Constantinople. As a military engineer he
specialized in moveable bridges and other such inventions, and when he
retired to his estates in Lyon he constructed numerous fantastic models,
which included floating bridges, water pumps, fantastical regulator
clocks, his famous "reading wheel" machine, artistic machinery for
rendering perspectives, and all sorts of other devices. His "Cabinet" fast
became a wonder to be visited by, among others, Louis XIV, as well as a
host of politicians, scholars, and other inventors and craftsmen.

In addition to being a skilled model-maker, de Serviere was also amongst
the leading turners of his time, constructing inexplicably intricate and
unlikely forms in ivory on the turning lathe. After his death his son, the
Grand-Prieur de l'Abbaye de Savigny, kept the Cabinet up and published
this volume dedicated to illustrating and describing its objects. Amongst
those who visited and marveled was the young Monk Charles Plumier, who
wrote the first book on the subject of turning, "L'Art du Tourner", in
1701.

The plates in this book begin with examples of de Serviere's intricate
workmanship on the lathe, starting with a plate of very delicate and
intricately carved ivories, followed by "pieces excentriques", a series of
Escher-esque carved balls within balls and sharp, pointy things sticking
out of carved balls, followed by more spheres within spheres, and then
some marvelously turned and carved "pieces hors du rond", wooden
tower-like pieces of great ingenuity and delicacy; these are followed by a
plate of carved rosettes.  But this is more than a book of lathe-work
(interesting as that may be).

The second section illustrates a series of ingenious clockworks invented
by de Serviere, many with an elaborate series of rails winding down the
frame; there are also clocks with carved serpents, an hourglass, and one
with Atlas holding up the Earth.

The third section features elaborate machinery invented or envisioned by
de Serviere, such as devices for raising water from streams, watermills,
water wheels, and other water-related apparatus, including several
paddle-wheeled boats; there follows a group of bridges, including pontoon
bridges and other sectional works; there are also gates and portable
ladders for military use. Interestingly, in retirement Grollier de
Serviere did not limit his tinkering to miniatures- he constructed a
full-sized pile-driver in his gardens, powered by a water-wheel held
steady by two boats.

The book ends with some ingenious plans for furniture, including the
reading "wheel", where the sitter sits in front of a ferris-wheel device
of shelves, on each of which is an open book; a wheeled chair; a portable
screen device for accurately sketching buildings, and something having to
do with lamps which looks fairly lethal. As a collection of designs and
inventions, the Cabinet of Nicholas Grollier de Serviere is as
awe-inspiring and fantastic today as it was in 1719, and it remains an
important record of the work of one of the 17th century's most
accomplished turners. The book was reissued in 1733 and 1751.

Hardcover.  7.5"x10", (28) + 101 + (8) pages, plus 85 copperplate
engravings (numbered 1-88; nos. 39, 48 and 76 were never issued); with
several woodcut head and tailpieces and decorative vignettes in the text;
title page printed in red and black. Bound in old full calf with
appropriate wear, with a new spine label; hinges tight and apart from some
minor soiling and several minor marginal dampstains, a very nice, wide
margined and clean copy.  [20741]    $3,000

Illustrations- <http://www.joslinhall.com/g-20741.htm>


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