Translated by Edward Fitzgerald
MAGNIFICENT EMBROIDERED BINDING AND CALLIGRAPHIC MANUSCRIPT
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Translated by Edward Fitzgerald
1904.
An exceptional calligraphic manuscript on vellum in a fine embroidered binding, likely by Morris & Co. 292 x 220mm. Title page in green and red with gilt vignettes. Nineteen pages of poem hand-calligraphed by Percy Smith. Initial "Awake" painted in large gilt lettering, verses calligraphed in red, black and green with initials supplied in contrasting red, dark green and occasionally gilt. Final leaf initialled "P.J.S." and dated 1904. In an exquisite silk embroidered binding, chain-stitched after a design possibly by May Morris. The upper cover showing a Pre-Raphaelite style maiden among curling foliage and pink flowers playing a psalter. The design being very reminiscent of those similar drawn by Edward Burne-Jones and modelled on Jane Morris. A double-ruled border encases a pattern of blue petals. The lower cover with a similar floral pattern and border encompasses a central blue scroll banner with the title 'Omar Khayyam' stitched in black. The spine is further decorated with a diamond pattern in shades of green, yellow and gold. A fine example of a Morris style binding, being exceptionally clean and unfaded with just a modicum of wear to the silk at the bottom edge.
The Barr Smiths have been assessed by Linda Parry as Morris & Company's largest account outside Britain. The association with Morris may have stemmed from the friendship between the Barrs' daughter Mabel and May Morris, who was schooled with Mabel and later ran the embroidery section of Morris & Company. Much of the family's collection (such as the present manuscript which was brought back to the UK in the 1920s) has passed down through descendants, some is in the Art Gallery of South Australia, and some important Morris textiles were sold at Sotheby's in Melbourne on 24 May 1993.
PROVENANCE: Robert and Joanna Barr Smith, Australian philanthropists and collectors of Arts and crafts and Morris and Co.
Stock ID: 38992
Sold
We have sold this item, but similar items
may become available in the future
