Edmund Dulac: Pictures for THE KINGDOM OF THE PEARL (AU ROYAUME DE LA PERLE)

In 1919, Léonard Rosenthal (1872-1955), an internationally respected and acclaimed dealer of oriental pearls and precious stones based in Paris,  published  Au Royaume de la Perle (Paris: Payot),  a volume with decorations by Claude Denis.

In 1920, Rosenthal commissioned Edmund Dulac (1882-1955) to provide illustrations for a large quarto deluxe edition. Published in Paris by H. Piazza. The book was immediately translated into English and published in London by Nisbet & Co.In the Kingdom of the Pearl Dulac used the conventional Persian style without perspective, rich in decorative forms and jewel like colours that bring out the beauty of minute things by the use of colour and graceful line.

Edmund Dulacs Bilder illustrieren eigentlich nicht den Inhalt des Buches, da dieses ein Sachbuch über Perlen darstellt wie z.B. die Kapitelüberschriften zeigen: I. LA PERLE DANS L'HISTOIRE, II. ORIGINE DE LA PERLE, III. LES PÊCHERIES DE PERLES etc.