Bookbinding (Jild-i kitab)
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Pasteboard; painted and lacquered
Dimensions
H. 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm) W. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.739
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bookbinding, known as *Jild-i kitab* (literally "book cover" in), hails from the Islamic world of the 18th–19th century. Crafted for a codex—a traditional manuscript book format—it exemplifies the reverence for the written word in Persianate cultures, where such bindings often encased sacred texts like the Quran poetic masterpieces. Measuring about 12½ by 7⅜ inches, its modest size belies the craftsmanship of an unknown artist, reflecting a time when book arts flourished under Mughal, Safavid, or Ottoman patronage. Made from pasteboard—a sturdy layered material of compressed pa...