Object details
Accession number
4.a.2.4
Primary Creator
Italian, Venice
Full title
Commissione of a member of the Fradello family (?)
Creation Date
1580-1582
Object Case
Horn Book Case
Publication Place
Venice
Binding Description
Leather with sunk-panels of floral arabesques, fleurons, and leone in moleca (Venetian)
Provenance
Possibly in the collection of a member of the Fradello family, late 16th century.Entered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection by 1922.
Dimensions
22.5 x 18.5 x 1 cm (8 7/8 x 7 5/16 x 3/8 in.)
Display Media
Stamped leather with silver leaf and gold-toned varnish, and copper alloy clasps
Dimension Notes
Without clasps: 22.5 x 16.5 x 1 cm (8 7/8 x 6 1/2 x 3/8 in.)
Web Commentary
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.
Permanent Gallery Location
Long Gallery
Bibliography
Isabella Stewart Gardner. A Choice of Manuscripts and Bookbindings from the Library of Isabella Stewart Gardner, Fenway Court (Boston, 1922), pp. 102-103.
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