TECHNIQUE
Full leather binding with laced on boards. Leather jointed, screen printed fly leaves and doublures created with the assistance of Kim Southam and printed by Nick Gordon, Stromness in Orkney.
There are over 100, hand-dyed onlays with a gold leaf background. The edges have been gilt in real gold foil. Hand sewn end-bands, 10 colours French double technique. The binding is housed in a powder blue, Buckram covered box which is lined with pink and coral coloured Suedel. The box also has compartments for two portfolios – roughly A3 in size.
DESIGN
The idea of this design was my client’s and was realised with the assistance of Kim Southam. I asked my client if they could provide me with a small paragraph explaining the design and its origins:
“The Shahnama is the national poem of Iran written in the 10th century. Part myth, part history, part epic, part romance and part tragedy it tells the story of Iran up to the Arab conquest of the 7th century. There are several notable manuscripts including that of Shah Tamasp in the 16th century. This printed version was commissioned by a group of Zoroastrian Iranians in the 19th century.
The central figure in the design is the Simurgh - a mythical bird - which personifies wisdom, healing and the protection of nature. I wanted the design not only to convey the magic of Iran but also to convey the beauty of the nature: the golden light in Iran, the mountains and the forests as well as pay homage to the artistry of past Persian miniaturists.”
