Le Bookiniste

Meubles & Sièges L & H. C. F. [Cover title]

[Belgian Trade Catalogue] L.&H. Cambier Frères

Ath, Belgium: L.&H. Cambier Frères, n.d. [ca. 1880].

Rare, profusely illustrated trade catalogue from the late 19th century depicting furniture made by L.&H. Cambier Frères of Ath, Belgium.

The catalogue consists of 107 lithographed plates depicting a wide variety of chairs, sofas, tables, desks, beds, and more (including children's furniture). Plates 108-122 contain decorative borders but no other illustrations, presumably so items could be added when Cambier Frères introduced new furniture designs.

(Apparently, it was fine to add items to the catalogue but buyers were advised not to cut out the drawings. "Ne découpez pas les dessins, indiquez-nous simplement le numéro de l'objet," it says at the bottom of each plate.)

Plates 31-33 depict chairs very similar in style to those designed by the German-Austrian cabinet maker Michael Thonet. In fact, chair No. 14 on plate 31 is exactly the same as Thonet's iconic No. 14 bistro chair.

There's no date given for the catalogue, but we estimate ca. 1880 based on the style of furniture. That's also when the brothers Léon and Henri Cambier expanded the Ath factory that their father, Emmanuel, had founded in 1835.

This catalogue is rare, with OCLC showing a single institutional holding, at the University of Leeds. None in commerce.

A wonderful look at European furniture of the late 19th century, with numerous detailed illustrations by Breger & Javal, Paris. RARE.

PHYSICAL DETAILS: Oblong Small Quarto (9.75 x 7 inches; 250 x 178 mm), [2], 122 pages, in original red cloth decorated and lettered in gilt.

CONDITION: Small water stain to front cover, slight flaring of upper board, rubbing and fraying to spine and board edges, offsetting to end papers, light toning to page extremities. About Very Good. Item #3068

Price: $875.00