Bijou (Solstice Star) Ultra Unlined Hardcover Journal

This exquisite jewel-toned purple and gold design, crafted from red morocco leather with intricate filigree and golden pointellé, is a shining star of bookbinding history. It was designed by an unknown Parisian atelier for the Pars Hiemalis section of the Parisian Brevarium, a book that dictated the liturgical rites of the Catholic Church throughout the church year. The bindings contents were printed in 1645 by S. and G. Cramoisy, one of the first secular workshops given authority to print liturgical works for the Catholic Church.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2023
Publisher: Paperblanks

This magnificent jewel-toned purple and gold design stands as a shining star in the annals of bookbinding history. Crafted originally from red morocco leather adorned with intricate filigree and gilded pointellé, the binding has been cherished in the collection of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) since the Second Empire (1865–1870). The creation of this extraordinary binding falls under the skilled hands of an unknown Parisian atelier, commissioned to hold the Pars Hiemalis (or, Winter) section of the Parisian Brevarium, a revered book that dictated the liturgical rites of the Catholic Church throughout the church year. The contents of this remarkable manuscript were printed in 1645 by S. and G. Cramoisy, one of the pioneering secular workshops granted authority to print liturgical works for the Catholic Church. While it is possible that this manuscript and binding were produced for a book collector rather than for ecclesiastical use, the sheer brilliance of the filigree work makes it a testament to the discerning taste of a noted bibliophile of the era. Over the past two centuries, the BnF has proudly showcased this masterpiece in its collection, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of bookbinding craftsmanship.

Dimension: 230 x 180 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781439793749