This is An
Universal Etymological English Dictionary, compiled by Nathan Bailey, printed
for J.J.&P. Knapton,etc. (1733). It was missing the front board, so the
client wanted a brand new facsimile binding. It's impossible to exactly recreate
the original embossing design as we don't have the exact ornaments.
(Technically, it's NOT impossible if you scan the ornament, clean the graphic on
the computer, and make a metal plate. This will cost a fortune, though.) There
used to be a pair of red and white sewn headbands, which I can tell based on the
tagging thread inside the book, so I've sewn headbands with burgundy and rusty
green threads. I chose the colors because they're the ones red & white
threads will become after 300 years. You don't want them to shout "NEW!!"at you
on an antique looking book like this, yeah? There have been some inquiries about
how I dye the leather, but I'll get to it when I get a chance. Anyway, I've got
another book to restore for this client, so I'm gonna work on it now.
Has anyone ever actually decided to pay to get all the metal plates?
ReplyDeleteVery rare on restoration, but common for new books that clients designed. Normally, those clients ask us to create one to two metal plates for their books, but sometimes, we get jobs that require multiple plates. - Like the one we got last year, which required 5 plates , including a couple of large ornament plates. I believe it cost him $700~$900 just for the plates. The book itself was also huge, (like 20"x26" or something), so I didn't work on it. (I had NO intention of breaking my back!)
DeleteWonderful job! It does have the feel of a hundreds years old binding. The darker area and the spot on the front cover really seem unintentional and give such a beautiful particularity to the cover.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the texture I created turned out to be slightly different from what I intended. (Like those "a tad too intense red-ish parts", etc.)I think the cover looks antique overall, yet has a bit more of "pretense" to it than I'd prefer personally.(I've never been completely satisfied with my work.. I guess it's a type of OCD?)So, I finished it off by creating blunt "imperfections" on the texture, (like the dark spot you mentioned), so that it looks more authentic.
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