BOUVET, Joachim (1656 1730) and Pierre GIFFART (c. 1631-1723), engraver. - photo 1
BOUVET, Joachim (1656 1730) and Pierre GIFFART (c. 1631-1723), engraver. - photo 2
BOUVET, Joachim (1656 1730) and Pierre GIFFART (c. 1631-1723), engraver. - photo 3
BOUVET, Joachim (1656 1730) and Pierre GIFFART (c. 1631-1723), engraver. - photo 4

BOUVET, Joachim (1656 1730) and Pierre GIFFART (c. 1631-1723), engraver.

Lot 88
13.12.2023 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 15 120
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1105714
Lot 88 | BOUVET, Joachim (1656 1730) and Pierre GIFFART (c. 1631-1723), engraver.
Estimate value
£ 15 000 – 25 000
BOUVET, Joachim (1656 1730) and Pierre GIFFART (c. 1631-1723), engraver.

L’Estat present de la Chine. Paris: Pierre Giffart, 1697.

Rare first edition, finely bound in contemporary morocco with the arms of Louis XIV, the engravings beautifully hand-coloured and heightened in gold. Dedicated to the son of Louis XIV, Louis de France, Duke of Bourgogne at the time of his marriage at Versailles on 7 December 1697. The Jesuit Joachim Bouvet was sent as an envoy to China by Louis XIV in 1687, where he worked at the royal palace and was close to the Emperor Kangxi. On his return In 1697 he brought back a collection of Chinese woodblocks and paintings. The plates were created by Pierre Giffart who produced copies of the original Chinese works. They represent elegant Chinese figures dressed in traditional and ceremonial clothing, with exceptional attention to detail in the portrayal of Chinese costume in a European book; the work was unusual in its attempt to stay as close to the Chinese originals as possible. It is divided in two parts, the first of male figures and the second of female figures, respectively after a dedication to the Duc and Duchesse de Bourgogne. 'C’est une édition superbe, très exacte au point de vue de la reproduction des particularités des costumes et du dessin chinois' (Hélène Belevitch-Stankevitch, Le Goût chinois en France au temps de Louis XIV, Genève, 1970, p. 243). Bobins I, 169; Brunet I, 1189; Colas 417; Vinet 2354; Sommervogel, II, col. 55; Cordier III, 1858; Löwendahl, China illustrata nova, Supplement 1588. Not in Lipperheide or Lust.



Folio (373 x 240mm) 42 engraved plates (without the two portraits, one each of the Duke and Duchess of Bourgogne - Madame Princesse de Savoye, not engraved by Griffart and often excluded) all with beautiful contemporary hand-colouring and heightened in gold, plate six in early state before lettering (small closed tear in lower margin of plate ‘Officier de robe Mandarin du 9 Ordre', blank lower outer corner torn in first Avertissement leaf, restored, some offsetting and minor browning, a few minor marginal damp stains) Contemporary red morocco gilt, sides triple gilt ruled to a panel design, fleur de lys gilt to outer corners, arms of Louis XIV gilt stamped at centres, spine gilt with fleur de lys.

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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