Originally published in the early Victorian era, this decorative tour de force marks the shift of popular taste from Neoclassicism, foreshadowing the development of Art Nouveau. An eclectic assembly of forty-seven engraved plates includes examples of Japanese and Hindustani styles as well as designs dating from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Elizabethan eras. Elaborate full-page illustrations abound in highly ornamented walls, doorways, staircases, and urns, all featuring curves that extend beyond mere circular patterns into increasingly complex ornaments.
This is the only edition currently in print of a hard-to-find sourcebook. Professional and amateur designers and graphic artists will appreciate the versatility of its illustrations.