Choix, "Planche II: Orfèvrerie: Argent, vermeil, jade"

This book, titled "Choix" (Choice), is the second of 800 copies that were published by Paul Iribe, a French illustrator, cartoonist, designer, decorator and art director, in 1930. Lamenting that French design had become "poor" and "americanized" in the years since the First World War, Iribe argues that the genius of French design lies in what he calls the "principe de l'arabesque" (principle of the arabesque). Facing the economic downturn of the 1930, Iribe is inviting his fellow French designers to choose to return to the "arabesque France" in design rather than to continue following the fashions imposed by the "cube Europe". To do so, after 31 pages with written text explaining his purpose, he presents seven plates of printed overlays over gold and silver board images depicting styles of the 1930's in home decor and fashion, as examples of industrial designs to illustrate the principle of the arabesque.

This plate, the second in the book, presents designs for silverware, all of them created on the silver board with smooth surfaces with lines over a slightly rougher background. Three serving pots, designed combining straight lines and right angles with curved lines, creating suggestive designs, typical of Art Deco: one of them, possibly a teapot, has a shape that curves outwards on the upper part of the design, and seems to have been inspired on a seashell; another, possibly to be used for serving water, has a scrolling handle facing a straight edge; the third, possibly a saucer, has what almost look like two 'wings' that hold a diagonal, straight handle. These three pieces are executed creating a flat surface that stands out over the rough background, and their handles are painted with black. There is a small cup in the middle of the three serving pots, created also with a smooth surface that stands out over the rough texture of the background, which is flanked by an x-shape on the bottom, decorated with four small leaves. Under the water pot, there is a serving spoon, with an egg-shaped body and a slightly curved handle. Below them, is a serving plate with a large fish on it, the scales and its body created with lines over a flat surface, which looks like it is swimming on ovean waves, executed with undulating lines above the plate.The printed overlay contains black shadows for the pieces of silverware presented, making their shapes easier to distinguish, and creating a dramatic ambience for the presentation of their designs.