Binding, outer cover: upper or lower

Unknown artist

18th century

Leather, pasteboard, gold, paper

Aga Khan Museum

The cover of a book or binding is made of pinkish-tan paper with some discoloration and wear. There is handwritten text and a number on a sticker. Further Reading Beginning in the 16th century, the materials used to face the bindings of royal books and the decorative techniques became more diverse, and included jewel-studded gold and silver plaques, embroidered silk fabric, and embroidered leather. Lacquer decoration with figures and flower motifs was used on both the covers and doublures of leather bindings.[2] The most common type of binding decoration after 1500 was a central oval medallion and cornerpieces. These were recessed and filled with stamped decoration in high relief, consisting of broad curving and sometimes broken stems bearing large stylized composite flowers,