| The reproduction of this folio sized binding is found on Plate 43 of Édouard Rahir's 1910 Catalogue, LIVRES DANS DE RICHES RELIURES. This is item number 233 and it is described on page 63. |
| On the previous page we have examined two authentic Derome bindings, unfortunately the reproduction quality of these bindings is poor and we need to find a better source of Derome imprints. At first sight the binding shown above does not seem anything like the elaborate dentelles that we have come to think of as a Derome. Indeed even Rahir describes this work as being possibly that of Padeloup. However the excellent quality of this reproduction enables us to discover that it is actually the work of Derome. |
| In Comparative Diagram 1, I have extracted an imprint from item 233 and compare it with the same imprint found on c22f3, a famous Derome masterpiece. While the c22f3 imprint is blurred, it is one of the best that can be found from that binding and is good enough for comparative purposes. The resulting diagram indicating a strong probability that both imprints were produced by the same tool. The beauty of the Rahir reproduction is that it allows us to zoom into the fine details of these imprints. |
| In W. Y. Fletcher's 1895 book entitled BOOKBINDING IN FRANCE it is stated: |
| "Derome was born on October 1, 1731, became a master binder on March 31, 1761, and was elected one of the Gardes en Charge of the Community of the Master Binders and Guilders of the City and University of Paris on May 10, 1773 at the same time as François Gaudreau, binder to the dauphine. He died about the year 1788.... the designs used by Derome on his bindings are extremely graceful, and rival those of Padeloup, to which they have a strong resemblance. It is be true that he purchased the material and stamps of this binder at the sale of his effects after his death (1758), it explains to some extent the great similarity of the ornamentation employed by the two artists. Derome executed many mosaic bindings, but his great renown has been gained by his dentelles, especially those in which he introduced a little bird with outstretched wings, and which are in consequence termed dentelles à l'oiseau." |
| A comparative study of Deromes tools reveals that many are nearly identical in size and form to those of Dubuisson. In as much as Derome started his career when Dubuisson was near the end of his, we may assume that Derome copied Dubuisson's tools. However in considering Fletcher's statement above as well as Rahir's guess that item 233 may be connected to Padeloup, we should consider another possibility.... if the imprints above derive from Padeloup's tools, this would imply that it is Dubuisson who copied the Padeloup tools. However, in my research so far, in which I have also studied to some extent the work of Padeloup, I have not encountered a single Padeloup binding in which these tools were used, nor have I discovered a binding by Padeloup that even compares to this style. That is not to say that they do not exist, and the reader must always bear this in mind. At this point in time, I am more inclined to think that the inspiration that led to the creation of these stylized tools, derives from the early Dubuisson plaque designs that date to the mid 1740's. |
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click on this link to go to the next page: more bindings by Derome le jeune
click on this link to return to: The Dubuisson Plaque Inventory |
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