Arts and Crafts Silver Electroplate Book Binding
1896.
A fine silver electroplate bookbinding, cast in three sections with the covers each showing a different central winged figure watched over by four winged sprites from the corners of a beaten panelled border attached to the central motif by delicate Art Nouveau latticework. The spine and clasp shows two further winged sprites. A fine example, laid down onto black board for display.
M. Lilian Simpson was a student at the Royal Academy when she created this electrosilver plate binding in 1894, for which she won the gold medal in the National Competition for Schools of Art. The binding was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1896. She had possibly intended the binding to cover a copy of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's poems. However, Simpson titled her subject as a "Book of Life,", stating,
"The idea embodied in the design is that of the growth of life (represented by the flowering fruit) watched over by SpiritsÂ… whilst Love (the central figure) kisses the buds into bloom, and, as shown on the clasp, binds together the pages of the Book of Life." Simpson died of typhoid in 1897, just two years after completing this work.
Greenstand & Carruthers 'Simplicity or Splendour', item 183; Tidcombe p.89.
Stock ID: 46811
£6,000.00
