[Rarebooks] FS: Trio of Scare Maiolica Books

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

Argnani, Federigo.  "Le Ceramiche e Maioliche Faentine dalla loro origine
fino al principio del secolo xvi..."

Faenza; Giuseppe Montanari Editore: 1889. Edition limited to 285 numbered
copies.

One of the major studies of the maiolica of Faenza of the 15th and 16th
centuries written by Professor Argnani, curator of the Civic Museum in
Faenze. Solon notes Argnani’s special love for, and interest in, the
antique maiolica wares, and indeed the author drew and colored the
illustrations himself. Argnani’s interests were varied, and he is still
remembered in Faenza as a “unique patriotic and artistic character” under
whose supervision the Municipal Art Gallery was expanded and moved to the
ex-Jesuit convent where it is still located. The pieces of maiolica shown
in these outstanding colored plates are mainly examples of everyday wares,
brilliantly decorated. Solon, writing in 1906, called them “rude” and
their decorations "uncouth". Today that judgment would be rephrased,
although I think I like "uncouth".

Hardcover. 10"x14", xii + 83 pages, plus 20 folding chromolithographed
plates. Red cloth with a leather spine, spine somewhat scuffed, cloth with
some soil. Contents with some foxing to the preliminaries, a little foxing
to the text, and a little to the plates, primarily confined to the very
outer margin; one plate has a 1" tear on the margin.  [08706]  $1,750.00

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Fortnum, C. Drury E.  "A Descriptive Catalogue of the Maiolica,
Hispano-Moresque, Persian, Damascus, and Rhodian Wares, in the South
Kensington Museum.  With Historical Notices, Marks, & Monograms"

London; Chapman & Hall: 1873.

A thick, heavy catalog of this noted collection, featuring many woodcut
illustrations and a dozen beautiful chromolithographic plates.  Solon
notes- "The specimens of Italian and Persian ware in the South Kensington
Museum form, perhaps, the richest and most comprehensive collection ever
brought together.  A catalogue of such a collection, written by one of our
most accredited connoisseurs, will always be one of the best text-books on
the subject that may be placed in the student's hands."  He does note a
textual problem, specifically that Fortnum places some credence, in his
historical notices, on the discredited works of Passeri and other earlier
writers- "which the latest researches have since completely discredited". 
Solon wrote that in 1906; almost a hundred years later Passeri is still a
very problematical writer, but that does not, in the end, diminish the
stately elegance and importance of this book.

Hardcover.  7"x10", cix + 699 pages, with many woodcuts in the text and 12
chromolithographed plates.  Bound in the original green pebbled cloth with
a leather spine and gilt titles; about as nice a copy of this book as you
are likely to find- there is some minor cover wear -a few bumps and dings,
a little soil and rubbing, but the hinges are tight and the book is clean.
 Internally there is some scattered foxing as is usual, but the pages are
partially unopened and although they exhibit some age-toning there is no
other wear or soil to speak of.  A very nice copy of a very thick, awkward
book which is usually found breaking out of its binding one way or
another.  [04752]  $750.00

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Borenius, Tancred.  "Catalogue of a Collection of Pottery belonging to
W.H. Woodward"

Privately printed: 1928.

An elegant catalog of superb 16th century Italian maiolica, with some
additional Turkish, Hispano-Moresque and Persian examples also included.
The text begins with an overview of Italian and related maiolica of the
period, illustrated with 8 b/w plates, which is followed by the catalog
itself, illustrated with 17 additional plates. The cataloger, Tancred
Borenius [1885-1948] was a Finnish art historian who specialized in
Renaissance Italy and was a professor at University College, London. The
author of a number of art histories, he was a member of the Burlington
Fine Arts Club, one of the founders of Apollo magazine and wrote for
Apollo and Burlington magazines as well. Quite an uncommon,
privately-printed catalog.

Hardcover. 10.5”x12”, xv + 38 pages, plus 25 b/w plates with tissue
guards. Original quarter vellum and cloth with leather spine label. Covers
quite bright and nice. Contents with moderate foxing to the endsheets and
some light foxing on a few interior pages.  [31030]  $750.00

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