Ancient book covers as Russian jewelry art
In the early days the book was a valuable gift. Such books were incredibly expensive, each edition limited, the book cover was a real piece of jewelry art. They were mostly religious books, owned by noble and wealthy people. For the book covers used leather, silk, wood, porcelain, decorated with silver, gold, enamel, precious stones – rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Each cover was different, unique, published only in several or even one copy. It made an indelible impression of wealth and greatness of the owner.
Handwritten on paper, gold cover, decorated with chasing, enamel on filigree, niello, precious stones and pearls. Moscow Kremlin workshops. 1571 Altar Gospel
Gold, decorated with engraving, enamel on filigree, niello, precious stones and pearls. Moscow Kremlin Workshops, 1571 Altar Gospel. (fragment)Moscow Kremlin Workshops, 1571. Altar Gospel, gold, decorated with engraving, enamel on filigree, niello, precious stones and pearls (fragment)1571 Altar Gospel, gold, decorated with engraving, enamel on filigree, niello, precious stones and pearls. Moscow Kremlin Workshops. (fragment)The book “On election to the throne …”. Cover and title page. Moscow Armory, 1672-1673. Masters Ivan Vereshchagin, Ivan Maximov “with friends”, Gregory Blagushin “and his comrades.” Paper (France, 17th c.), Silver, cloth, wood, painting, molding, stamping, engravingThe contribution of Prince Repnin to the Holy Trinity Monastery in 169, 5Gospel Cover with filigree apron. Apron – silver, filigree, enamel on filigreeCover “Christ Gospel.” 1448. Silver, casting, stamping, engraving, filigree, niello, Russian woodcut, XVII-XVIII centuries.Precious book coverBoyar Fyodor Koshka. 1392. Gospel Cover. Jewelled Arts of Ancient Rusfragment – Gospel Cover, Boyar Fyodor Koshka. 1392. Jewelled Arts of Ancient RusGospel CoverDetail, Gospel Cover
All books – handmade on an old printing press, illustrated by famous Russian and foreign artists. Kept in museums and libraries in Russia, Germany, Britain and the United States.
Ancient book covers as Russian jewelry art
The Lindau Gospel Book CoverMade in 750 – 800 AD near Salzburg, the Lindau Gospel Book Cover. The book cover made in gold, silver, enamel, and decorated with jewels. image – cor104.blogspot.ruThe State Hermitage Museum, an exhibition of “The Book as Art” in autumn of 2012The State Hermitage Museum, an exhibition of “The Book as Art” in autumn of 2012
The exhibition featured beautiful and rare book covers. The book design inextricably linked with its content. Thus, “The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish” by A.S. Pushkin bound in fish skin and Egyptian papyrus. And the cover of the book “Hero of Our Time” by M. Lermontov recalls officer’s uniform. The book of Konstantin Bagryanorosky “On Management of Empire” – decorated with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, enamel, silver and gold.
Prayer. Master R.O.S.S.I.I. exclusive jewelry art. Contemporary art