Description
Book SynopsisThe Technique of Islamic Bookbinding is the first monograph dedicated to the technical development of the bookbinding tradition in the Islamic world. Based on an assessment of the extensive oriental collections in the Leiden University Library, the various sewing techniques, constructions and the application of covering materials are described in great detail. A comparative analysis of the historic treatises on bookbinding provides further insight into the actual making of the Islamic book. In addition, it is demonstrated that variations in time and place can be established with the help of distinctive material characteristics. Karin Scheper’s work refutes the perception of Islamic bookbinding as a weak structure, which has generally but erroneously been typified as a case-binding. Instead, the author argues how diverse methods were used to create sound structures, thus fundamentally challenging our understanding of the Islamic bookbinding practice. Karin Scheper has been awarded the De La Court Award 2016 by The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences for her study of the bookbinding tradition in the Islamic world.
Table of ContentsPreface to the Second Edition Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Materiality Matters A Detailed Sketch of the Current State of Knowledge and Outline of the Research The Information Value of Binding Structures The Present Situation of the Book Archaeology of Islamic Manuscripts Obstacles in the Study of Islamic Bookmaking Linking Physical Analysis, Catalogue Data, and Literature Selection and Justification of the Corpus 2 The Anatomy of the Islamic Manuscript A Detailed Overview of the Different Methods of Construction Vocabulary and Images as Tools Techniques Used to Construct the Textblock Covering and Board Attachment A Problematic Term: Case-binding Other Characteristics Meaning and Validity of the Diversity 3 A Comparative Study of the Historic Sources and Recent Literature on the Making of Islamic Manuscripts Historic Sources Secondary Sources: Related Studies and General Reference Works Founders of our Knowledge on the Use of Structure and Materials in Islamic Bookmaking Structure as a Starting Point Structure as a Side Issue Structure as a Conservation Issue The Sum of the Parts 4 Multiplicity within the Tradition n Account of the Methodology and Quantitative Results of the Survey Methodology Survey Results—Quantitative Analysis 5 Mapping the Variations in Time and Place Datable and Localisable Features and a Further Interpretation of the Findings Sewing Spine-lining Endbanding Covering Spine-endings Interior Covering of the Boards The Envelope and Fore-edge Flap Miscellaneous Features Southeast Asia as a Sub-category in the Islamic Tradition Summary 6 Considerations and New Perspectives Recapitulation Development of the Tradition Discussion Conclusion Appendices 1 Glossary 2 Corpus 3 Example of a Record of the Database 4 List of Manuscripts Used in Illustrations Bibliography Index
