A fine Pre-Raphaelite needlework book cover from 'The Book of Beauty', circa 1896
Of pale green satin embroidered with the figure of a Pre-Raphaelite style maiden holding white lilies and a mirror, surrounded by flowers and foliage in blues, greens and pale pinks and couched gilt thread borders, worked with the initials F.H.W for Mrs. F. Harcourt Williamson, and the title 'The Book of Beauty', with plain panel to the left to cover the spine and reverse of the book,
decorative panel 42.5 x 33cm (entire piece 42.5 x 75.5cm).
decorative panel 42.5 x 33cm (entire piece 42.5 x 75.5cm).
Sold for
£6,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- 'The Book of Beauty: A Collection of Beautiful Portraits with Literary, Artistic and Musical Contributions by Men and Women of the Day' edited by Mrs. F. Harcourt Williamson was published by Hutchinson & Co., London in 1896 in a deluxe edition of 300 copies. The book features portraits of society women and their children, poems, short stories, comic sketches, music and summaries of society events, featuring contributions from Rudyard Kipling, Lord Curzon, Sir John Millais and J. M. Whistler.
The National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum hold a copy of the book with identical dimensions.
Photograph copies of several pages of the book will be included in the lot.
Category: Collectibles / Costume and Textiles
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