MVR 220
This 16th-century Islamic binding was originally crafted from black goatskin that was embossed, gilded, painted, and covered with delicate gold filigree. Said to have been first commissioned by one of the Safavid princes of Shiraz, it came to be in the possession of Suleiman the Magnificent, the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Suleiman, a distinguished poet and gifted goldsmith, was also a great patron of the arts who orchestrated the development of one of the most glittering periods in artistic history.
In its original form this book cover was decorated with rows of golden lockets, hand-painted with flowers and rosettes, and overlaid with filigree. Artists of Persia’s Safavid dynasty (1501–1722) ensured that its bookbinding and décor represented a pinnacle of cultural achievement.
This design is also available as part of our Accordion Box collection.
Shiraz Ultra
Includes | Memento Pouch • Ribbon Marker
Attributes | 144 pages • 7" x 9"
Lined 978-1-4397-2538-2
Shiraz - Mini
Includes | Memento Pouch • Ribbon Marker
Attributes | 176 pages • 100 x 140
Lined 978-1-4397-2540-5
MVR 220
The Spirit of Hawaiian Florals.
There is no more distinctive and iconic a garment than the Hawaiian shirt. This quintessential fashion statement pays homage to one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes and to the spiritual and philosophical mores of Island culture.
Hawaiian “tiki-style” textiles have evolved from the traditional kapa fabrics made from tree fibres to the popular Aloha shirt we see today. These exuberant flower and foliage prints have always reflected the natural beauty of the Hawaiian Islands infused with the vibrant expression of the aloha spirit. More than just a traditional Hawaiian greeting, aloha is a way of life. “Alo” means “sharing in the present” and “oha” refers to “joyous affection.”
Hawaiian garments went upscale in the 1940s when Alfred Shaheen pioneered tropical prints to high fashion. His designs incorporated images from the islands’ lush natural world and suggested a postwar optimism and modernity. Contemporary designs, including those gracing our covers, continue to capture the essence of aloha. Paperblanks® series is inspired by today’s Hawaiian prints and the spirit of joyful harmony that they evoke.
Includes | Memento Pouch • Ribbon Marker
Attributes | 176 pages • 3.75" x 5.5"
Lined | 978-1-4397-2691-4
MVR 290
A Venetian morning is alight with marvels. From sunlight sparkling on water to the startling hues of incomparable architecture, Venice enchants the eye from first light to last gloaming. We have captured some of the splendid daybreak palette of the ancient city with these four striking covers.
Our covers are inspired by a Renaissance binding for a book called The Treatise on Colours. The original design dates back to the early 1600s and was crafted from red morocco leather with fine gold borders and checkers of green, red, blue and brown in the midfield, as well as lace fillets and marbled endpapers.
Our covers embrace the Renaissance value of cultural rebirth by representing an ancient book binding with contemporary bookmaking techniques.
Venetian Mornings - Aureo Midi
Includes | Memento Pouch • Ribbon Marker • Smooth writing surface that takes ink superbly
Attributes | 144 pages • 5" x 7"
Lined 978-1-4397-3581-7
Venetian Mornings - Celeste Midi Unlined
Includes | Memento Pouch • Ribbon Marker • Smooth writing surface that takes ink superbly
Attributes | 144 pages • 5" x 7"
Unlined 978-1-4397-3580-0