A binding by Paul Woodroffe for ‘Little Flowers of Saint Francis’ (original) (raw)

Binding

Paul Woodroffe

1899

A pale green cloth embossed with a die-stamped gilt pattern

7¾ x 5 inches

This elegant Art Nouveau binding is composed of a repeated pattern contained within an interlace. The prime device suggests both a leaf and the movement of water; each ‘leaf’ contains a cluster of parallel forms which could be leaves, thorns, or germinating seeds. The organic imagery as a whole connotes the idea of God’s plenty and prepares the reader for the sacred story contained within the pages. [continued below]

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Photograph and text by Simon Cooke

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