La jambe artificielle “La Française”.

CLAVERIE, A. Établissements. La jambe artificielle “La Française”.
Paris, Imp. Vieillemard, [c.1920].
(27.5 x 18 cm). 28 pp., 4pl. in color protected by captioned guard-sheets. Publisher’s wrappers, cover embossed with the title and emblem. Covers show some soiling and a few chips, internally very near fine.

The firm lists their numerous awards at universal and international exhibitions, 1912-1919, which leads us to date the catalog c.1920. There are five models illustrated in four full-page color lithographs, with prices indicated.

Abundantly illustrated catalogue of a manufacturer of prosthetic legs. The catalog is aimed largely at individuals in need of prosthetics, but the firm also provides their product to military hospitals, medical equipment distributors, and state factories, etc. The catalog is fully priced and includes a thorough summary of the conditions for placing orders and having measurements made for molds and other personalized considerations, sales, payment, shipping, etc.

The catalog also includes images of their factory and employees in a double page spread at the center of the catalog (see illustrations). It is noteworthy that of the 32 figures displayed wearing different versions of “La Française” prosthetic, all are actively engaged in sports or physical labor, and all are men (two woman are portrayed but both are without prosthetic limbs). The overlap in the dates of the firm’s success in international competitions and WWI are also noted.

The catalog, with its color lithographs and in-text illustrations, is well designed and presents its products with sensitivity as well as with a confidence in those products and the firm’s methods, doubtlessly aimed at overcoming the hesitation by persons in need of prosthetics, due to stigmatism or the lingering effects of trauma from injury or wounding during the war.

A remarkable document on many levels.