A class on the "Book Covers" took place on November 20, 24 and 25 at the Book Museum. Members of the "Book Professors’ Club" could see the real book memorials: books of 16th–20th centuries with unique covers.
Children learn to "read" book covers of incunabulas and rare books, and then they created and decorated their own book covers, taking into account the historical traditions.
A book casing, consisting of many details, not only accomplishes protective function, but it also represent an element of book design. Book binding art exists as long as the book exists. The book casings made by order of the rich collectors were especially appreciated.
The materials from which the casings were made were different. The book covers often became real masterpieces of jewelry art: gold, silver, platinum, multi-colored enamel, elephant bone, precious stones and pearls were used.
Binding covers made of wood or cardboard. Then they could be tight-fitted with silk, velvet and decorated with embroidery. Most often the covers were made of parchment – specially treated leather of calves, pigs or goats, with the natural shades or colored in red, blue, brown, green and other.
The filigree embossing was expanded in the 17th–18th centuries, especially the "lace" which gained wide popularity on the French covers, looks beautiful. The covers with the masters’ names on them, that helps pinpoint the time and place of manufacture, are appreciated a lot.
Even the backs of books were objects of decorative delights: they were gold, with the title of a book or decorated with beautiful miniatures. The flyleaf made from colored paper, fabric and other materials are impressive too.
Participants created their own book and "dressed" them: adorned the covers with bows, lettering and bookplates.
The article is created by the Bibliology Research Departmenеt.
