Antiquarian La Mode Illustrée French Fashion Plate (1862)

This is a mid-19th-century hand-colored lithograph from the esteemed French periodical 'La Mode Illustrée.' The piece depicts two Victorian-era debutantes in an outdoor garden setting, showcasing intricate high-fashion garments from approximately 1862. The woman on the left is seated on a red sofa, wearing an olive-green gown with pagoda sleeves and dark striped trim. The woman on the right stands holding a book, donned in a white dressing gown or morning ensemble accented with horizontal band detailing and delicate lace. The print features the text 'LA MODE ILLUSTRÉE' and 'Bureaux du Journal 56, Rue Jacob Paris' at the bottom, along with 'Leroy Imp Paris' and a production date of 1862. It is housed in an oval wooden or composition frame with a gilded bronze-gold finish that shows significant verdigris-style green oxidation or patina, particularly along the inner rim. The paper exhibits signs of age, including mild foxing (small brown spots), overall yellowing/toning, and one notable tear or loose paper fragment visible at the bottom right. This print represents the golden age of French fashion publishing and illustrates the meticulous line-work and color-tinting techniques of the Second Empire period.