[Item #4927] Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving. David Esterly, Grinling Gibbons.
Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving
Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving
Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving
Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving

Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving

ISBN: 0810941422
New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, 1998. First American Edition. Hardcover. "In this fascinating new study, the work of the greatest of decorative woodcarvers is seen from a new perspective- through the eyes of a fellow carver. Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721) is famous for giving wood "the loose and airy lightness of flowers." His flamboyant cascades of lifelike blossoms, fruits, foliage, birds, and fish dominate English interiors of the late seventeenth century. They are among the glories of Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, and St. Paul's Cathedral, as well as Bandminton, Burghley, Petworth, and other great country houses. A contemporary of Christopher Wren and of the diarists Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, Gibbons was part of the colorful world of Restoration England. His discovery by Evelyn in a tumbledown cottage near the River Thames was followed by a presentation to King Charles II, who rejected his early sculptural work. Gibbons responded by inventing his spectacular style of decorative carving. He was then rediscovered, reintroduced to the king, and launched into a triumphant career." (from front flap) A magisterial volume on the life & work of the great British wood carver Grinling Gibbons by David Esterly (1944-2019), the acclaimed American wood carver who worked in the same tradition & with the same materials as Gibbons- even helping to restore some of Gibbons' carvings at Hampton Court after their damage in a fire during the 1980s. With 178 illustrations including 70 in color, an exemplary production of the venerable Abrams imprint. Large hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, first American edition, published the same year as the first British edition (1998), first printing with no references to further printings & "98-18449" stated on copyright page. From the collection of George V. Buehler (1933-2020), who was a prominent real estate developer & collector in Massachusetts & Arizona. We found & have retained, between blank rear endpaper & paste-down, several printed-out documents relating to Buehler's purchase of this item in early 2013, & subsequent research into its (increased) value in 2015, in very fine condition with only light creases where once-folded horizontally. A beautiful, collectible presentation of the highest artistry, with distinguished provenance. Book in very fine condition with only a few very faint scratches to brown-colored front, back covers & spine (with gilt lettering on spine completely bright & intact); a bit of wear at edges & corners of same; slight bending of spine toward front. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at upper corners of some page leaves. Dust jacket very fine with only very slight rubbing to front, back covers, spine & flaps; some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same. An extra handling charge will be added for shipping due to the weight of this item. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #4927]

Price: $75.00