Miniatures Illuminated Books Of Hours Moroccan Binding With Coat Of Arms Signed Gruel Middle Ages Hours

[Binding with coat of arms signed GRUEL].Heures du Moyen-Age.Paris, Gruel / Engelmann, sd [circa 1870].One vol. in pt format in-12 square (161 x 123 mm) of 2 bl. ff., 1 chromolithographed f. n.fol., cxcii pp., 4 bl. ff. n.fol. and 2 bl. ff. Contemporary signed binding in full wine-colored morocco, covers decorated with gilt fillets, lacework and framing scrolls, gilt cipher surmounted by a gilt viscount's crown in the center of the first, spine ribbed with blind-stamped bold fillets, gilt thin fillet on the ribs, double gilt framing boxes, double gilt fillet on the edges, gilt and chased edges, gilt inner lacework, full wine-colored moire endpapers. (Gruel). Copy covered in a sumptuous contemporary binding of full morocco; signed [Léon] Gruel at the bottom of the spine. It should be noted that the covers are not decorated with a ''plate'' decoration, but rather with a roulette. Testimony - if needed - to the technical virtuosity at Gruel's disposal. The edges, in addition to being gilded, have also been very finely chiseled here. The work is embellished with 193 chromolithographs - including full-page compositions -; each with gold highlights. Which constitute an exhaustive reflection of medieval aesthetics. The ''Family Memories'' closing the work have remained free of any handwritten annotation. Léon Gruel "possessed one of the finest collections of bindings in Paris, ranging from the origins to the 18th century inclusive." (in Fléty).''Three generations of Gruels succeeded one another in the family workshop located in the Madeleine district of Paris. Isidore Desforges was Paul Gruel's father-in-law and the founder of this workshop in 1811. Upon his death, his son-in-law, although a trained engraver, succeeded him as head of the workshop. In 1834, he then transferred it to rue de la Concorde. After the death of Paul Gruel in 1846, his widow continued the business, participating in exhibitions, notably the one in 1849, where she received a bronze medal. In 1850, the widow Gruel remarried the lithographer - and inventor of chromolithography - Jean Engelmann, and the Gruel house then became Gruel-Engelmann. From her first marriage to Paul Gruel, she had a son, Léon Gruel, born in 1840. From her second marriage, two sons were born, Edmond and Robert Engelmann. When Engelmann died in 1875, she and her three sons formed one of the most important bookbinding houses in the capital. This collaboration lasted until 1891, when Léon Gruel became the sole owner.''Fléty I, Dictionnaire des relieurs français, 85 - Crauzat I, La Reliure française, pp. 27 and following. Other than some foxing affecting three leaves intended to contain "family memories" - and therefore as such devoid of illustrations - copy remaining in a remarkably fresh state.