English Embroidered Bookbindings by Cyril James Humphries Davenport
page 62 of 119 (52%)
page 62 of 119 (52%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
each inner corner of the crosses-patée. Four arches also rise from the
rim, the two outer ones each having three small scrolls with a pearl in the middle; at the top is a mound and cross-patée, with a pearl in each of its inner corners. There is a letter H on each side of the coat-of-arms, and these letters were originally doubtless worked with seed pearls, but the outlines of them alone are now left. In each corner is a red Lancastrian rose worked on a piece of satin, appliqué, the centres and petals marked in gold cord, and the whole enclosed in an outer double border of gold cord. On the front edges of each side are the remains of two red silk ties. This is certainly a very handsome piece of work, and is wonderfully preserved. It is the earliest example of a really fine embroidered book on velvet in existence, and it has perhaps been more noticed and illustrated than any other book of its kind. The crown has an interesting peculiarity about it, which does not appear, as far as I have observed, on any other representation of it, namely, that the four arches take their rise directly from the rim. They generally rise from the summits of the crosses-patée, but I should fancy that the rise from the circlet itself is more correct. [Illustration: 16--Biblia. Tiguri, 1543.] _Biblia._ Tiguri, 1543. This Bible also belonged to Henry VIII. It is bound in velvet, originally some shade of red or crimson, but now much faded. It measures 15 by 9-1/4 inches. It is ornamented with arabesques and initials all outlined with fine gold cord. In the centre are the initials H. R., bound |
|