“Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron..."

[delphipsmith]

"...Here is a book that will break your heart." C.S. Lewis, on The Lord of the Rings.

Benjamin Harff, a German art student, has made this doubly true. He decided for his capstone project to do a hand-illuminated, hand-bound copy of Tolkien's The Silmarillion. He spent six months on it and had the volume bound in leather by a professional hand book-binder (he assisted).

It is the most beautiful thing I've seen, such a remarkable labor of love and art.

Here are pictures, and an interview + more pictures.

In these days of 140-character tweets and instant this-n-that, my heart is reassured when I see evidence of appreciation for Things That Take Time.

Also of course we wants it precious, we wants it!!!

Comments

[inamac.livejournal.com]

That's lovely work.

I remember seeing an exhibition of bound copies of Tolkien's books at the British Library which were beautifully made (illustrated coloured leather mainly). His work does inspire.

ETA - Link to the Philip Smith Bindings.

[delphipsmith]

Oh, that's lovely! I had never heard of Peter Smith, thanks so much for the link.