Album de Pliages et de Tissages / Pliage Froebel 1792-1852

Oblong folio, 10.5 x 13.75 inches. 26 leaves of heavy charcoal grey paper stock bound with a braided cord. Student work, undated ca. early-mid 20th Century France. An album of paper folding (Froebel's eighteenth Gift) and paper weaving (the fourteenth Gift) which runs the gamut on execution--from geometric forms so basic they feel awkward, to a mind-bogglingly intricate folded paper crab, and the parachute with string in the sweet spot between. Pliage Froebel 1792-1852 A small paper insert outlines the project, "Principe: contraires reliés par les intermédiaires," which appears focused on the interpretation of paper forms and ability to transform representational shapes. Notably, several of the forms have a three-dimensional aspect-- such as the book and armoire examples, which share the same rectangular shape but are distinguished by their functional movement and labeling. A bit different from traditional Froebel albums, the limited color palette, rejection of flatness, and addition of elements like the piano keyboard and clock face. Traditional examples of paper weaving appear in the latter part of the album, executed with typical materials.