Flap of Bookbinding
Unknown Artist
15th century
Medium
Dark brown, black, and red leather; stamped and gilded
Dimensions
H. 17 in. (43.2 cm) W. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Adrienne Minassian, 1994
Accession Number
1997.314
Art Historical Context
Step into the exquisite world of 15th-century Islamic book with this stunning flap from a bookbinding, crafted from dark brown, black, and leather. Measuring 17 inches high and 8¼ inches wide, its surface is adorned with intricate stamped designs and shimmering gilding—a testament to the masterful craftsmanship of anonymous artisans in the Islamic world. These flaps protected precious codices, often containing Qur'ans or scholarly texts, folding over to safeguard pages from wear and the elements. In the Islamic tradition, bookbindings were far more than functional; they were canvases for arti...