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A jewelled binding for the first Kelmscott Press edition of The Poems of William Shakespeare, early 20th century

Workshop of Sangorski & Sutcliffe

Exhibited by Peter Harrington

Material Near-contemporary green crushed morocco, elaborately decorated in gilt and adorned with over 100 precious stones and mother of pearl inlays

Dimensions 20.4 × 13.8 cm

Place of Creation London

Price £125,000

Status Vetted

About the Work

This is the 1893 Kelmscott edition of Shakespeare's Poems, in a spectacularly ornate binding by the legendary bookbinders Sangorski & Sutcliffe. The opulent design is inspired by the imagery of the verse inside. Lines of poetry, with the same 17th-century orthography employed by this edition, are lettered in gilt on every surface.

The intricate tooling and leather onlays are accented with mother of pearl, amethysts, citrines, hardstones, and opals.

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