Bookbinding

Art Historical Context

This exquisite 17th-century book, crafted by an unknown artist, hails from the Islamic Art collection at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Measuring 15 7/8 by 11 1/4 inches, it features a traditional medium of leather over laminated paper board—a durable construction designed to protect precious codices, or bound manuscripts. Adorned with floral motifs (as suggested by its tags), it exemplifies the artistry invested in everyday functional objects within Islamic traditions. In the 17th century during the height of Ottoman, Persian, and Mughal empires, bookbindings transformed simple covers into mast...