Plate from the antique book “Le Costume Historique” by Auguste Racinet, published from 1876-1888.

It is framed under glass with clips and a backing board with hanging hardware. 8” x 10”

There is age discoloration to edges and corners. See photos.

This is a rare original 1888 duotone chromolithograph which features furniture and fashion in domestic settings from european 17th century life.

This is a rare original 1888 color chromolithograph which depicts several interior scenes and furnishings familiar to the French aristocracy of the 17th century. A gentleman respectfully covers his face in the upper panel, having just walked in on an elegant mademoiselle washing her feet in the bathing cabinet (similar, in nature, to the water closets of the 18th century). Below, peeping tom is shocked to see a lady in her dressing robe beckoning to her young, dark-skinned servant boy, who simply came to deliver her messages. The lad, hastily retreating, happened to be the brother of another youth in the service of the Duchess of Mazarin.

Of the two chairs shown here, the upper one is made of gilded wood, and would not have been out of place in such elegant surroundings. The lower one, however, retained its natural wood finish and is of a slightly different style, perhaps dating back to the reign of Louis XIII, making it better suited for inconsequential rooms not seen by guests, such as personal bedrooms.