Bindings

An Introduction to Islamic Manuscript Culture | Session 2, pt 2

20 May 2019Evyn Kropf

In this session

Overview of bindings, addressing structure / format, materials, finishing, later interventions (repair, re-covering, etc)

Bookbinder, depicted stamping a binding On the margins of a folio from the Gulshan Album (Freer Gallery of Art F1954.116) Figures attributed to Madhava (act. 1582–ca. 1624) India, Mughal dynasty, ca. 1600

https://archive.asia.si.edu/explore/worlds-within-worlds/zoom/gulshan-album-folio.asp

Binding

Provides protection and coherence for the book, stabilizes for long-term consultation / use

Comprised of structural elements, cover, and attachment, each involving materials and techniques that can be characterized as well as possibility of ornament (finishing) and later intervention

Range of variations encountered across Islamic manuscript cultures, but also certain commonalities

Challenging for codicological study, however! Bindings are often not independently dated, covers are easily detached / replaced / repaired (often quite subtly), only rarely have signature of binder and ability to date based on knowledge of their activity (from external sources), might have some internal evidence (regarding restoration, identifying binder in colophon etc) but must analyze and compare with present state of affairs

Bosch et al (1981), p.38 Fig.3 “Terminology...”

Common features encountered

(across Islamic manuscript cultures)

● Codex (with slight variations as seen earlier, octagonal, agenda, unsewn, etc)

● Unsupported link stitch sewing on two stations or four stations*

● Woven endbands (usually chevron pattern) worked on the book and typically integral to cover attachment

● Cover material affixed to spine over spine lining(s) = tight back

● Cover typically flush with text block (no squares)

*Though do occasionally encounter sewing on recessed supports in 19th century manuscripts!

Endbands on manuscripts in Tiflis Collection (Isl. Mss. 1-161)

Variations in features

Structural elements box binding or not, with flap or not, covers and textblock flush or not (squares), two-piece binding or not, sewn gatherings or not, number of sewing stations, endbands, attachment, format etc

Materialspaper (decorative = marbled, stamped, etc, ‘waste’, pasteboard layers), leather, textile, lacquerwork, metal, thread of silk, linen, or cotton

Ornament (finishing) techniques = tooling, stamping, filigree applique, painting / lacquerworkcomposition = motifs, colors, etc.material = gold, onlays, inlays, etc.

Interventions / manipulations = repair, re-covering, etc

Sampling of types encountered

Box binding (Déroche Type I)

With flap (= Déroche Type II) cf Isl. Ms. 39) or without flap (= Déroche Type III) Isl. Ms. 270

Two-piece binding cf Isl. Ms. 286, 285, etc

Wrapper bindings (unsewn or individually sewn gatherings) cf Isl. Ms. 17

Pouch for unsewn gatherings cf Isl. Ms. 643 Reproduced from Karin Scheper, The Technique of Islamic

Bookbinding, 2nd rev ed 2018

http://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=005988878&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006805291&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006805803&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=005976426&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006815236&local_base=MIU01_PUB

Sampling of materials

● delaminating pasteboards (Isl. Ms. 420)

● leather (Isl. Ms. 39)

● shagreen (leather treatment and/or exotic skin) Isl. Ms. 307, Isl. Ms. 286

● framed binding (frame cover) with marbled paper (Isl. Ms. 631), silk textile (Isl. Ms. 414, (Isl. Ms. 370), velvet textile (Isl. Ms. 855) & leather

● use of ‘waste’ (Isl. Ms. 40)

● use of recycled / reused cover (Isl. Ms. 541)

● lacquerwork (Isl. Ms. 285)

http://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006822780&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=005988878&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006813667&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006805803&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006813657&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006822686&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006818821&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006819612&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=005988885&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006795132&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006805796&local_base=MIU01_PUB

Sampling of finishing techniques

● tooling : blind and gold (Isl. Ms. 70, Isl. Ms. 39)

● block-pressing (Isl. Ms. 626)

● stamping : compositions (Isl. Ms. 444), motifs (Isl. Ms. 342), binder signature (Isl. Ms. 270), large panel stamp (Isl. Ms. 231, Isl. Ms. 363)

● filigree appliqué (Isl. Ms. 330)

● painting / lacquerwork (Isl. Ms. 285, Isl. Ms. 351)

Gold-tooled upper cover of Isl. Ms. 170 (Istanbul, 1814 or 15)

http://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006079850&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=005988878&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006813652&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006814937&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006814937&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006816067&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006805291&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006796191&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006818785&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006815845&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006817991&local_base=MIU01_PUB

Sampling of interventions

Isl. Ms. 541, Isl. Ms. 444, Isl. Ms. 562 v.1 & Isl. Ms. 562 v.2, etc

Cf. Evyn Kropf, “Historical repair, recycling, and recovering phenomena in the Islamic bindings of The University of Michigan Library: exploring the codicological evidence.” In Suave Mechanicals: Essays on the History of Bookbinding, Volume 1, Ed. Julia Miller (Ann Arbor, MI: The Legacy Press, 2013): 1-41.

Subtle edge and fore-edge flap repairs on the cover of Isl. Ms. 444 (ca. 1742-1762)

http://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006795132&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006814937&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006803682&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006803687&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006803687&local_base=MIU01_PUBhttp://mirlyn-classic.lib.umich.edu/F/?func=direct&doc_number=006814937&local_base=MIU01_PUB

Essential Reading

Islamic Bindings and Bookmaking: A Catalogue of an Exhibition, eds. Gulnar Bosch et al. Chicago: Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, 1981 available online

“Bookbinding” (Déroche et al, Islamic Codicology, p.253-310)

Scheper, Karin. The Technique of Islamic Bookbinding: Methods, Materials and Regional Varieties. Leiden: Brill, 2015. Second revised edition, Leiden: Brill 2018.

Barakat, Heba Nayel et al. Islamic Bookbinding. Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, 2017. (Catalogue of an exhibition launched at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia on 8 May 2017)

https://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/shared/docs/IslamicBindings.pdf