The cover design library of Paperblanks draws from a variety of sources of visual art, while antique bindings have provided great inspiration. Many of these bindings were originally made from leather, but in the case of the Silver Filigree Collection, the emphasis is on the brilliance of the bindings adorned with metallic filigree.
This method of decorating books was particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, with almost all bindings of this type being made in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries. Over the years, artisans experimented with different techniques to shape the metal into tender and elegant jewelry.
One such design has been recreated in the Garnet cover. The original binding, made for a book of religious hymns, used a simple metallic plate as the base for the ornament, whose fancy spirals were formed with metal wire and small beads. It dates back to the early 1800s and the binding was crafted in Swabia, in the southwestern part of Germany. At that time, the Empire style, as seen in this design, was the dominant style in European decorative arts. The splendor of the binding's jewelry reflects the idealization of Imperial Rome and Ancient Egypt of that era.
With its royal and ceremonial references, this elegant red background was found to be a harmonious companion to the rich style of the original jewelry, thus this Garnet design was created for the Silver Filigree Collection.
