Collection

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Italian (Venice), Upper cover of the commissione of a member of the Fradello family (?), around 1580-2. Stamped leather with silver leaf and gold-toned varnish, height 22.5 cm x width 16.5 cm x depth 1 cm (closed).
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  • Italian (Venice), Upper cover of the <em>commissione</em> of a member of the Fradello family (?), around 1580-2. Stamped leather with silver leaf and gold-toned varnish, height 22.5 cm x width 16.5 cm x depth 1 cm (closed).
  • Italian (Venice), Lower cover of the <em>commissione</em> of a member of the Fradello family (?), around 1580-2. Stamped leather with silver leaf and gold-toned varnish, height 22.5 cm x width 16.5 cm x depth 1 cm (closed).
  • Italian (Venice), Inside upper cover of the <em>commissione</em> of a member of the Fradello family (?), around 1580-2. Paper and leather, height 22.5 cm x width 16.5 cm x depth 1 cm (each).
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Commissione of a member of the Fradello family (?)

Around 1580-2

Italian (Venice), binder

Stamped leather with silver leaf and gold-toned varnish, and copper alloy clasps, Height 22.5 cm x width 18.5/16.5 (with/out clasps) x depth 1 cm (closed)

Genre: Rare Books and Manuscripts, European Art

Location: Long Gallery

Accession Number: 4.a.2.4

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Leather with sunk-panels of floral arabesques, fleurons, and leone in moleca, about 1580-2.

This lavish binding's almond-shaped central medallion, scalloped corner-pieces and arabesque pattern, imitate Islamic gilt-lacquered bookbindings, which came to Venice in large numbers through trade and war with the Ottoman Empire. They created a fashion in late sixteenth-century Venice for Ottoman-style decoration on a variety of luxury items, including commissioni, parade armor, wall-hangings, caskets, cabinets, and musical instruments. The coat of arms on the lower cover is possibly that of the Fradello family.

Source: Anne-Marie Eze, Illuminating the Serenissima: Books of the Republic of Venice, special exhibition on view in the museum's Long Gallery, May 3 through June 19, 2011.

See related images for other examples of East meeting West in Venetian Renaissance art and Islamic art in the museum's collection.