Guillaume Janneau - Les Beaux Meubles Français Anciens – Série complète 5 volumes en chemises - 1920

Very rare complete set of this legendary reference work on 18th-century French furniture:
Guillaume JANNEAU
Les Beaux Meubles Français Anciens
Éditions d’Art Charles Moreau, Paris
8 & 10 rue de Prague, Paris
circa 1928-1930
Large folio (39 × 30 cm), five original publisher’s portfolios in cream and pink card with red titles and original ribbon ties.
The five volumes are:

Les Petits Meubles
Les Grands Meubles
Les Sièges
Les Commodes
Lits de Repos & Lits

There are exactly 242 loose plates in heliotype on thick paper, many enhanced by hand in pochoir colour and gold, reproducing the finest pieces from museums and major private collections of the period.
There is a common misconception regarding the number of plates in each portfolio, whether those should originally be 50 or 48. This happens because the first one published was with 48 plus 2 extra with printed hand - designs (present in this offer), but the editor didn't follow up with the next 4 portfolios, which remained with 48 plates.
Each portfolio also includes of 3 uncut sheets (4 + 4 + 2 pages), being the title page and general information about the items pictured the portfolio.

Condition (see detailed photos):

Complete set – all five portfolios and all plates present
Original ribbon ties, one might have been replaced (beige color, instead of red).
Portfolios show honest age wear: light soiling, small tears and creases at edges, some corners bumped,, a few scuffs – everything remains perfectly solid and authentic.
Plates inside are in excellent condition with strong impressions. They have all been photographed and attached in this listing so you can judge for yourself.

A cornerstone work for any collector, interior decorator or scholar of French 18th-century furniture – increasingly scarce in complete state with the original portfolios.
Worldwide shipping with carefully prepared packaging and full tracking.

Magnifique série complète en cinq chemises d’origine avec rubans. Environ 240 planches héliogravées, nombre d’entre elles rehaussées au pochoir. Chemises en bel état d’époque (usure, petits accrocs, coins émoussés), planches très fraîches. Un ensemble très décoratif et très recherché.