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Binding • 28.2 x 20 x 2.2
Bound in bleached vellum with natural markings,
pressed over bas-relief boards using the inner pre-modelled
linings of the box as formers - working the box
and book together. The spine and boards were worked
independently. The doublures are of vellum continued
in one piece on each side from the outer covering and
overlapped at head and tail with the irregular edges
'gilded' with palladium. The head is cracklure 'gilded',
also with palladium. Silk head and tail bands worked to
match each end.
Container • 31.6 x 23.2 x 4
Constructed of laminates of millboard, bas-relief
inner surfaces, covered with dyed handmade paper.
Indented ring mark and incised letterforms 'stone' on
front. Bleached vellum spine hinge, touched with palladium
at head and tail. Concertina vellum 'catch' at
foredge.
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Concept
The theme of protective and concealing layers continues
- the book is protected by its covers; in turn it is
protected by the container which may be plain, or an
aspect of the presentation and part of the whole idea.
With stones and rock faces the surprise is often held
inside, or sandwiched between, two faces, its surfaces
formed in close association with the host rock - like a
seam of quartz threaded between grey rocks. Great
whalebacks of them abound in the Argyll landscape,
some incised with mysterious 'cup and ring' marks,
the legacy of man's life around 5000 years ago. The
ring mark is added like graffiti, using the book's title
face to complete the title on the box and scratched
rather than carved, to intimate another era. The naturally
figured, semi-translucent vellum with its hard,
cool surface and touches of silvery palladium were
suggested by the qualities of a piece of quartz - finding
the right material is sometimes a matter of exciting
serendipity.
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