Godey Costume Plates in Color for Decoupage and Framing

by Eleanor Hasbrouck Rawlings (Editor)

Godey's Lady's Book (1830–1898) was an American woman's magazine that reflected the manners and morals of the day. Among other things, it brought its 19th-century readers a monthly installment of the latest Parisian fashions. Exquisite, hand-colored engravings depicted women modeling designer gowns, dresses, bonnets, capes, muffs, and accessories ― "les modes Parisiennes."
The author personally selected the most striking Godey plates from the years 1841 to 1888 ―a gallery of 24 full-color plates that reflect the insouciance, charm, and style of 19th-century haute couture.
The book shows craftsworkers how to use these fine reproductions of authentic period fashions for découpage. Découpeurs can decorate boxes, trays, furniture, lamps, bookends, vases, and countless other items with these lovely renderings and be assured their work will last for years.
Eight pages of step-by-step instructions teach you the art of découpage on wood, under glass, and using materials, sealing, painting, gluing, varnishing, and sanding ― everything you need to know to beautify wood, metal, ceramics, and glass.
Craftsworkers, fashion designers, costume enthusiasts, and graphic artists will welcome this collection of copyright-free vintage designs for their antique flavor, artistic craftsmanship, and for the formal grace of pose and composition that evokes a bygone era.

56 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1980

Reviews

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 4 out of 5]

My library has this as a costume reference book, and it's not bad for that. It has decent pictures and shows the dresses from all sides. But the dresses are mostly of the extremely fancy and impractical kind, not the kind of thing that Laura Ingalls Wilder would have had for daily wear. (I remember reading about her mother looking at Godey's Ladies Book, the source of these illustrations, for dress ideas.)

It also has information about how to do decoupage and how people would make imitation Sèvres china and Chinese porcelain if they couldn't afford the real thing.