J. Moyr Smith — Ornamental Interiors Ancient & Modern

London, Crosby Lockwood and Son, 1887. First edition. Cloth. A scarce work by John Moyr Smith, exploring many different examples and the history of ornamental interiors, illustrated throughout. The first edition of this scarce work.Illustrated with a frontispiece, thirty-two plates, and in-text engravings throughout.Four pages of adverts to the rear.Collated, complete. 'Ornamental Interiors Ancient & Modern' explores the beautiful specimens of decorative interiors found in Victorian architecture, with the idea that all modern work is founded on ancient examples. Moyr Smith looks at decorations used in particular rooms of a house, such as the dining room and library, as well as describing and showing examples of decoration from around the world and throughout history, including Assyrian, Roman, Egyptian, and Byzantine. Interestingly Moyr Smith traces the rise of the modern styles of decoration, sourcing the rise back to the Great Exhibition. The illustrations showcase the beauty of many prominent houses and palaces of Britain, including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Warwick Castle, as well as foreign examples such as Fontainebleau and the court at Khorsabad. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. Light rubbing and marks to the boards and spine. Minor bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Spine is faded. Small tears to the joints. Discolouration to the boards. Front hinge is strained. Internally, binding is strained. Pages are lightly age-toned with scattered spotting. Plate facing page 104 is detached but present. Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Good .