Vintage 19th Century America Art Books - 1970 Metropolitan Museum Centennial 2 Volume Set

Created for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s centennial celebration in 1970, this two-volume exhibition set explores the richness of 19th-century American art through painting, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. Both illustrated softcovers are housed together in their original slipcase, making the set an especially handsome vintage reference for collectors of American art, museum publications, and decorative arts.

The two catalogs accompanied the Met’s 19th-Century America exhibition, held April 16 through September 7, 1970. The furniture volume alone documents roughly 300 objects spanning Federal, Empire, Gothic, Rococo, Renaissance, Art Nouveau, and Reform styles.

Condition
Good vintage condition. Both softcover volumes show light age and handling wear consistent with a 1970 publication. Original black slipcase is intact with visible rubbing and wear, particularly around the edges and corners. Interior pages appear clean and well preserved in the provided photos. Please review all photos carefully for exact condition.

Publication Details
Titles: 19th-Century America: Paintings and Sculpture & 19th-Century America: Furniture and Other Decorative Arts
Publisher: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Distributor: New York Graphic Society Ltd.
Publication Year: 1970
Edition/Printing: Centennial Exhibition Editions
Exhibition Dates: April 16 - September 7, 1970
Paintings & Sculpture Standard Book No.: 87099-006-3
Furniture & Decorative Arts Standard Book No.: 87099-005-5
Language: English
Printed in Great Britain by The Curwen Press Ltd.

The Met identifies Paintings and Sculpture as a 206-page volume with 201 illustrations and Furniture and Other Decorative Arts as a 272-page volume with 296 illustrations. Both are now out of print.

Measurements
Paintings & Sculpture: Approx. 10" x 8.5"
Furniture & Decorative Arts: Approx. 10" x 8.5"
Slipcase: 10.5" . 8.75" x 1.25"

Binding
Illustrated softcover
Original two-volume slipcase

Features
Two-volume matching set
Original slipcase
Metropolitan Museum of Art Centennial exhibition catalogs
Nearly 500 illustrations across both volumes
American paintings, sculpture, furniture & decorative arts
1970 museum publications
Out of print
Illustrated throughout

Additional Notes
Published to commemorate the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 100th anniversary, these catalogs document a major exhibition devoted to 19th-century American visual and decorative culture. The surviving original slipcase is particularly nice for keeping the pair together as the set was intended.

All books are vintage and may show age-related wear consistent with their history. Please review all photos carefully.

A unique find and purr-fectly peculiar.