A journal by artist and designer John Coulthart.
Two editions of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam from a presentation of special bindings at the Princeton University Library. The peacock design contains real jewels. In addition to these displays of lavish blocking there are some remarkable examples of edge decoration, something one rarely sees today even on expensive limited editions. Thanks again to Thom for the tip!
Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The book covers archive
Previously on { feuilleton }
• Ronald Balfour’s Rubáiyát
I have a peacock-heavy piece of art out next month so with that grasping for spurious relevance here’s a few more peacock discoveries.
Antoine Helbert‘s untitled peacock man is one of a number of striking portraits turning humans into birds. Via Chateau Thombeau.
Peacock styles, Anchor Buggy Co. (1897) at the Library of Congress.
Macbeth.
“I’m a creative catch-all; a designer / illustrator / printer on a mission to cover the world with my hand drawn patterns and motifs,” says Johanna Basford. “I’m not a Vector Technician, but one of the dwindling number of creatives who still likes to put pen to paper.”
Beautiful, intricate work. Via ~Wunderkammer~ (again).
Previously on { feuilleton }
• The art of Melchior Lechter, 1865–1937
• Cadavres Exquis
• Ronald Balfour’s Rubáiyát
Will at A Journey Round My Skull turned up this hand-coloured picture from Ronald Balfour’s illustrated Rubáiyát some of whose other drawings were featured here recently. That distant volcano is a curious detail. Related: Golden Age Comic Book Stories posted plates from Willy Pogány’s edition.
• Authors on authors: China Miéville on JG Ballard; Rodrigo Fresán on Jorge Luis Borges; AS Byatt on Lewis Carroll.
• Events: Alan Moore & Sunn O)))’s Stephen O’Malley present Simultaneous Conjugation of Four Spirits in a Room at the Laing Art Gallery on March 13th, 2010 (via Arthur); in October Weirdstone will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Alan Garner’s The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.
• New blogs: Wonder Kabinet / Wunderkammer, “curiosities, ephemera, and fragments from The Cutting Room Floor and Evan J Peterson”; Pencil Tool, a Tumblr by Charity Pomaybo; and another Tumblr from Mountain*7.
• Perversity Think Tank is a new book from Supervert. Download it for free or order the delicious limited edition.
• The Casual Optimist lists 10+ Flickr Groups for Book Design and Inspiration.
• Via BibliOdyssey: 400 woodcuts by Eric Gill.
• “At least in self-abuse / There’s a little dignity…” Song of the week was Hands 2 Take by The Flying Lizards from their second album, Fourth Wall (1981). I bought this when it came out but hadn’t listened to it for years. Thrilling, urgent stuff with the fabulous Patti Palladin on vocals. Play loud.
If the work of illustrator Ronald Balfour (1896–1941) isn’t as well-known as it should be it’s probably because his 1920 edition of the Rubáiyát is his sole major work according to a recent feature in Book & Magazine Collector. These illustrations were produced when he was 24 and while the drawing can be uncertain in places, they’re really splendid examples of the post-Beardsley style, owing far more to Aubrey’s flourishes and details than to the usual Arabian exotica found in other Omar Khayyam adaptations. As usual I love the profusion of peacocks and winged figures, and, unlike many rare editions of this period, we’re fortunate that someone has put all the illustrations onto Flickr. Feast your eyes here.
Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The illustrators archive