Vories william merrell architect (1 risultati)

Oblong 4to. 12.25 x 9 in. [2 leaves], 31 thick leaves w/ tipped-in silver gelatin photographs (6 hand-coloured), and 29 retaining their textured printed tissue guards. Ornate & embossed padded leather post-binder, tooled panel & borders on front cover of the Daimaru Villa, embossed geometrical patterns on spine & back cover (wear to fore-edges, wear to corners, some scuffing head & foot of spine, old cloth repair rear hinge, occasional tears to tissue guards), still a nice copy, w/ all the photos bright and w/ excellent contrast. First edition, thus, of this fascinating photographic souvenir album for the Daimaru Villa, a half-timber Tudor Revival home designed by Vories. The American missionary, turned noted architect, had recently finished the Doremus School in Yokahama, and was executing designs for the Daimaru Department Store in Osaka, as well as the Kobe College in Nishinomiya City, while working on the Villa. Shimomura XXI (1883-1944) was Chairman of the Daimaru Department Store Chain, and an accomplished photographer, whose talents are well-represented in this album. Opening with a birds-eye view of the recently completed home, he presents an interior tour of the home including the Reception Hall, Living Room (featuring the geometric pattern reproduced on the spine & back cover of the album), the Garden Sun Dial, the brightly coloured Sun Room, Dining Room and Butler's Pantry, the Stair Hall featuring reproductions of the "Unicorn Tapestries," the Family Shrine, Weathervane, and night view of the home from the garden. One of the hand-coloured photos shows off the vivid Art Deco architectural details and tile in the bathroom, filled with reds, blacks & greens. The Matsuzaki & Co., Ltd. were well known for producing luggage, and leather novelties sold in Daimaru Department Stores in Japan during the 1920's and 1930's. Shimomura's photos were exhibited in the Ashiya Photo Salons of 1935-1937, and also featured later in the art magazine Geijyutu Shinchou.…