Bookreview by Michael Rosser

The ‘Bugatti to Concorde’ chapter highlights the value of this book (quite apart from its enjoyment) to anyone who might collect Frenchie items. For example Nick Waters starts the chapter with “When I was dealing in antiques I was acutely aware of the confusion that existed as to what was, and was not, ‘genuine’ bronze.” He then gives clear and readable guidelines about the various metals used for French Bulldog models, with bronze the “crème de la crème”.

Once again there are beautiful color illustrations with the text, wonderfully accompanying the journey from Rembrandt Bugatti through to the model of the dog Concorde, via Becca Williams’ A precious handful and other mouth-watering pieces.

The next chapter sees the unusual step of publisher Bas Bosch inserting a chapter, highlighting the bronze sculptures of Dutch artist Gerda van den Bosch. He explains that “In this book her craftsmanship deserves an honorary place too because Gerda has chosen the French Bulldog as her subject the most often.” The illustrations certainly demonstrate remarkable talent and attention to detail and expression.

‘Little Scraps of Beauty’ starts “Collectively known as ephemera, because their original purpose was short-lived, trade cards, cigarette cards and postcards have for years languished as one of the most underrated of all art forms. Many were designed by artists of great skill and produced using the finest technology of the period in which they were produced. They also display the ingenuity and patience of photographers who were struggling to capture the animate with slow shutter speeds.”

Here again there is the visual delight of just flitting through the pages and pausing at colorful reproduction of pages full of cigarette cards or old postcards, or of stopping to read the text and continuing to the end of the particular section or indeed the whole intriguing chapter.

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