A Complex Enclosure

Description:

Dating from 1596, this full leather binding has raised metal bosses on the covers to protect the leather from abrasion. Historically, to prevent theft, a chain attached the book to a bookshelf. Renaissance patrons were required to consult the text at a table while the book was still chained to the shelf ... What was once created as a protection against theft now presented a problem of how to protect the fragile leather from its own heavy chain while retaining the history of the use and handling of the book. The chain needed to be isolated within the book’s protective enclosure so as not to move freely in the box and damage the binding ... The solution devised was to create a barrier between the volume and the chain, incorporating a high platform to fully isolate and contain the chain. The compartments required detailed planning and designing, and were built from archival corrugated board.

Attribution:

Design: Aisha Hamilton

Date:

8/15/2022