Elements d'orfevrerie
Subtitle: divises en deux parties de cinquante feuilles chacune
By: composez par Pierre Germain, marchand orfevre joaillier a Paris
Contributors: Baquoy, Jean Charles, 1721-1777; Caillou, Marguerite, d. 1755; Chereau, Genevieve-Marguerite, d. 1782; Chereau, Jacques-Francʹois, 1742-1794; Pasquier, Jean Jacques, 1718-1785; Roettiers, Jacques, 1707-1784
Publisher: Chez l'auteur, place du Carousel a l'Orfevrerie du roy
Published: 1748
Place of publication: Se vendent a Paris
Language: fre
Number of pages: 100
Subjects: Rococo Goldwork; Goldwork; Silverwork; Patterns; Early works to 1800; Rococo Silverwork; Decoration and ornament; Pictorial works; History
Notes: Etched throughout. The plates are chiefly by Jean Jacques Pasquier, some by Jean Charles Baquoy.

Divided in 2 pts. priced at 12 livres apiece, each with 50 plates.

First leaf: title - 2nd leaf: dedication to Machault, controlleur general des finances - 3rd leaf: Germain's Avis - 4th leaf: Table des desseins. Second pt. has special added title leaf.

Plates 70-72, 78, 81-82, 86 depict designs by Jacques Roettiers, Jr.

Numbering of plates 51 & 52 corrected in MS from 15 & 25.

Copy 1 bound with: Livre d'ornemens / Pierre Germain (Paris : Chez l'auteur, 1751).

Copy 1 bound in mottled calfskin; triple fillets in gilt along margins of boards, fleurons at corners; spine gilt tooled, abbreviated title on maroon label; page edges mottled blue; holes from earlier stab sewing. Signature on t.p. of Berbigie. On verso of plate 99 is careful pencil copy in reverse of plate 100, facing. Unidentified etched designs for neoclassical candlesticks mounted on versos of plates 66-71, 90-91; signature on verso of 91 (C. Racine?). Additional folded candlestick design bound facing plate 71.

Copy 2 has "et ches la ve. de F. Chereau rue St. Jacques aux 2. piliers d'or" added in the plate below imprint on title of pt. 1, indicating a later issue. The addition is not present on the title of pt. 2. It apparently refers to the widow of Francʹois Chereau II (Genevieve-Marguerite, nee Chereau, active as print seller 1755-1768), rather than to that of Francʹois Chereau I (Marguerite, nee Caillou, active 1729-1755); see H. Cavalie, Pierre Germain dit le Romain (site Theses de l'Ecole des chartes, consulted 2/20/09). Binding: 19th-century green goatskin, signed by Reymann; title, author & imprint on spine in gilt; edges of boards and turn-ins gilt tooled; page edges gilt and marbled; striped ribbon place marker.

Copy 3 comprises text leaves and plates from a collotype facsimile, perhaps Edouard Rouveyre's Paris ed. of ca. 1889. Both pts. of the original from which the copy was made are stamped throughout: Bibliotheque Imperiale Est; and a second stamp appears on the title leaves: Acquisition no. 1961. These stamps identify the copy as that of the Bibliotheque nationale de France, Departement des Estampes Le-54-4. Pt. 1 of this copy is first issue, with Germain's signature on the title. Pt. 2 is a later issue, however, with "et ches la ve. de F. Chereau rue St. Jacques aux 2. piliers d'or" added to the title. The collotypes are tipped onto loose sheets of stock 27.5 x 19.5 cm; some bear property stamp of the Parisian jewelers A. Risler & Carre. Now in clamshell box covered in buckram.

Copy 4 has Germain's MS signature at foot of title, pt. 1, indicating first issue. "Auec priuilege du Roy" also appears in MS on the title of pt. 1, but it appears in the plate on title of pt. 2. Each plate is hand-stamped C.P.R. Plate 36 is a cancel. Bound in at end are 5 unidentified etchings depicting 2 hanging lamps and 3 candelabra. Binding: goatskin, mottled in lozenge pattern, faint pattern pricked in blind on both boards; spine gilt tooled, abbreviated title on red label; page edges red; holes from earlier stab sewing.