Grabados - Blog Posts

Ophidiophobia, Biodiversity Heritage Library

L'astronomie pittoresque - Jules Loridan - 1896 - via Gallica

1875. Revue de la mode. Chatelaines, éventails et éventail-pistolet.

I was searching my magazine collection for chatelaine pictures (I’m a bit obsessed with chatelaines and other victorian gadgets for women) and this gem pops up. Here is a blurry close-up:

«5-6. Eventail-pistolet ouvert en cuir de Russie noir ou rouge et filets à feuille d'or, de soie noire ou rouge, suivant la monture. Notre dessin 6 reprèsente l’eventail-pistolet fremé et accroché à la ceinture.

Revue de la mode. 4º Année, nº162. Dimanche, 7 Fevrier 1875.»

A pistol-fan, man. I can’t even think of a worse accessory. I mean, it’s just bad design. Darwin award winner bad design. Victorian edition.

I’m sorry, I’m just laughing out loud here.

          The Apex of Good Taste (Owen Jones’ Grammar of Ornament)

“Grammar of Ornament was Owen Jones’ design masterpiece. First published in 1856, the lavish folio highlighted stunning patterns, motifs and ornaments in 112 illustrated plates.Each intricate illustration explored design principles behind the architecture, textiles, manuscripts and decorative arts of 19 diverse cultural periods, with a final chapter revelling in the glory of the natural world.Grammar of Ornament was a monumental publishing project that achieved standards of colour printing never seen before. It is still in print 150 years later, testament to its enduring design appeal.“

Sample Contents:

1. Arabian

2. Indian

3. Illuminated

4. Greek

5. Egyptian

6. Chinese

7. Celtic

8. Byzantine

9. Renaissance 

10. Pompeiian

Sample designs from Heinrich Dolmetsch‘s “Historic Styles of Ornament”

1. Egyptian

2. Assyrian

3. Greek

4. Pompeiian

5. Japan

6. Chinese

7. Indian

8. Persian

9. Arabian

10. Moresque

The Illustrated Police News, October 28, 1876

The Illustrated Police News, August 28, 1873