Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-06-28

The binding arr really grew out Of that
Of writing, for the first forms OF writing
on rolls, skins and the Egyptian papyri
were accompanied By equally rude at
tenpts at binding, by sewing the diff
fersnt leaves of these materials together
for covering. The gradual riss and
development OF the process is best
studied By reference TO the documents
Of the ancients, who invariably sdop-
ted some protection for their MSS, and
those of japan, which, written on rar-
row strips of paim-leaf, were bound to-
gether with fiat pieces of wood. Con-
structive ingenuity Is manifest, but dec
orative skill is wanting, in these rs well
a. other 7faf-dissant3 ATTEMPTS at the
binders art. When We consider the re-
motsnessiof the speriod, il isea surprise
that even so high axstandard Of excel
lsnce was forthcoming.
Gradual progress Is seen in the meth
DDS employed ,whendthe substitution Of
square books for the rolls or "papyri"
called forth further ingenuity, and
when leather casesiwere made to wrap
around the Greek and Roman wand tab
lets. In most of these instances, dura-
bility was more considered than design,
bot the intercourse gradually spring
ing up between Eastern and Western
Europe had its influence also upon an
ornament, and Sd we find the Byzantine
style affecting the binders art. Wooden
boards, covered with metal or copper
gilt, formed a favorite mode of binding
In the sixth century, and progress was
decoration. The famous "Opus Angi-
canum" style of gold embroidery ex-
ercised an influence on early artwOrk;
the converts and abbeys of the centu-
ry were busted in its production, and
Queen Matilda herself encouraged and
developed the taste. The AnRio-SaxOn
era was memorable for its love of orna-
mental design, especially for its needle
work, of which the embroidered vest
ments for st. Cuthbert's shrine, now
preserved in the cathedral library, Dur
ham, are fine example. The growing
art gained much encouragement from
the churches, which were diliaent COL
lectors of MSS. of the gospels. the Lii
turgies and the Fathers. For such sa-
cred treasures no setting could be too
lavish, and while the shrines were be-
ginning to be filled with votivs offerings
and gold and jewels sparkled from we'll
guarded recesses, the grand services and
choral books of the time received their
share of decoration.
The duty of the sacrist was to bind
and clasp such books. The Irish church
led the way, and the influence of the
Celtic school Of design had reached En-
gland in those most vigorous and taste
full illuminatiOns known as "Anglo-
Irish" developed by st. Columbia, and
afterward distributed through England
and Scotland. So much national art
on the velium page could not fail to have
its counterpart on the outside over.
Thus we find those priceless and typical
volumes. THE book of Armagh" 1.-The
Gospels Of st. COLUMBIA" 1.-The Book of
kells," and others executed in Ireland,
and also in Scottish monasteries, set
with precious stones and Jewels, or in
closed III metal covers or eases, though
the scarcity of gold in later times caused
them to be robbed of their richest orna-
ments.
In the undisturbed period following
the Norman invasion, we cannot fix on
any representative epoch of art-binding;
We must look to the gradual work and
extension of the monastsries i'll the 18th
and 18th centuries for definite aims.
Tie Benedictines, whose services to mo
nast!c literature are specially famous,
had founded the great religious houses
of Cambridge, Ely, st. Adams, Tewkes-
bury, Westminster and others, where
with the work of the scriptorium or wri-
ting room has long been connected. The
patient labors of the scribe, the illumi-
nator and the binder produced those
treasures which are now collected in the
vast libraries of England and the Cont
nent. In the far-famed cloisters of
Gloucester Cathedral can be seen the
carols" or seats, where each scribe
took his turn at transcriblng or painting
MSS; thus We may regard these build
ings as workshops devoted to the art and
learning of the day.