18th Century Bookbindings

This black leather-bound prayer book, dated 1703, incorporates a number of decorative elements. The black leather, though slightly worn, has a layered rectangular engraving that works itself around the front cover. Each layer of the rectangle contains a mixture of floral designs and scalloped edges. There is slight damage to the front of the book’s spine, likely worn from opening the book over time. 

This book additionally utilizes metalwork pieces, such as the central piece on both the front and back covers, and the four cornerpieces. The central engravings are identical on the front and back; both ovals were cut into to create the fine lines within the metal, resulting in interlacing lines that form a sort of “A” shape. Both engravings are raised on the leather cover with embossed pieces. The cornerpieces are engraved as well, and are decorated with a floral design that seems to be identical on all four pieces. Unlike other books in the exhibition, this prayer book relies heavily on just aesthetic decorations. 

The central initials and cornerpieces, in addition to the engraved leather, compile a richly designed cover, seemingly devoid of underlying symbolism. 

This black leather-bound prayer book, dated 1757, has many decorative features seen at first glance. The center emblem in the shape of a diamond with the figure of a bird, the metal corner pieces or bosses reflecting the design in the center, and the metal clasps on the side also mimicking the design of the emblem and bosses. However, there is a bit of damage to this book specifically, as the bosses are loose, one clasps is missing, and there is some fraying on the spine. One cannot forget the beautiful illumination outlining the edges of the cover. Unlike some of the other books from this century, it does not have as much leather working other than the spine, like the first object from 1703.

The bird in the center emblem is a figure of an ostrich. The Tower of London, from 1200-1835, housed excotic animals, which included the ostrich. Most people in England did not have the privilege to see the ostrich in person, but relied on written description and information, which was not always accurate.

The ostrich is significant as they were thought to have special powers and could digest anything. This is why they are sometimes depicted eating iron or some kinds of metal. Depicting the ostrich on the metal emblem could be a hint to that past belief. The ostrich is also depicted with a horseshoe in its mouth, which is typical of medieval artwork, nodding to their power/strength to digest anything.

The ostrich was then starting to be included in family crests for their incorrect belief of being able to digest anything. This belief was translated into the family crest as strength and toughness, that a family could take anything that was thrown at them. It was also a symbol of wealth as only the wealthy in England could afford to possess one.