An Especially Fine Example of a Baroque Vermeil (Gilded Silver) Binding

DAS GANZE NEUE TESTAMENT. [with] PSALMEN DAVIDS. [with] DIE KLEINE BIBEL: ODER: DER PSALTER DAVIDS.

(BINDINGS - VERMEIL). BIBLE IN GEMAN.

(Zurich: David Gessner, 1740, 1738, 1738). 162 x 90 mm. (6 3/8 x 3 1/2"). 270 pp.; 192, [16] pp.; 64 pp.

LOVELY PIERCED VERMEIL SILVER BINDING over dark brown sharkskin, the metalwork with intricately twining strapwork accented with acanthus leaves, a basket of flowers, and two eagles, elongated vermeil head and tail caps over spine, two fore-edge clasps, gilt patterned paper pastedowns, all edges gilt. Housed in a fine modern brown morocco felt-lined clamshell box. First two works with extra engraved illustrated title page. Ink gift inscription on front flyleaf: "Helen McDowell/ from her/ affectionate/ [illegible]/ with sincere/ good wishes/ for her future/ happiness/ August 1864." For the binding: Hayward, "Silver Bindings from the J. R. Abbey Collection," 14. Sharkskin with just a hint of chafing, occasional mild browning or foxing to leaves, but QUITE A FINE COPY, clean and fresh internally, and the binding shining and unworn.

Beautifully executed and wonderfully preserved, this New Testament is an excellent example of the vermeil bindings--that is, silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver--produced in Switzerland and southern Germany during the Baroque period. As is typical, this binding is without a hallmark, but it closely resembles another New Testament bound in shagreen and vermeil, described and pictured as item #14 in Hayward's "Silver Bindings from the J. R. Abbey Collection," which Hayward indicates was produced in Zurich in the early 18th century. These intricate silver bindings were popular for religious works, presenting what Hayward calls a "combination of ostentatious wealth and piety," and this one was executed with great skill, featuring graceful lines and delicately rendered details. There are two main types of silver bindings from the period: engraved and pierced bindings like the present example, which were especially popular in the 17th century; and embossed or repoussé bindings, which came into fashion in the late 17th and early 18th century. Of the two, the engraved and pierced bindings are generally valued more highly because they required more time and skilled labor. (ST20462)

Price: $8,000.00