The above images are an intriguing mix of patterns for lace making surrounding various alphabet and script styles. The suite of engravings was produced in 1604 by Antonello Bertozzi and Sebastian Zanilla in Padua and is simply known as 'Book on Lace'.
I have found exactly zero background (again) to this work and only a passing reference to Bertozzi on this page.
The book belongs to the University of California Libraries* and, as mentioned a few weeks ago in the Ornamental Typography post, is available in various formats from Archive.org. I have taken the liberty of removing the holepunched library markings as well as the digital trade watermarks from the above images. I won't embarrass the Redmond outfit who digitised the work by mentioning their name. It could only have been an oversight on their part that the company brand name and statement was plastered onto the actual illustrations in this public domain book right?
All of the images were taken from a pdf file and a dozen more (slightly cropped but otherwise untouched) pages from the suite can be found in this Webshots album. That is all or very close to all of the images in the book.
How beautiful! You've done a tremendous amount of work removing the holes and watermark. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post - thank you!
ReplyDeletegreat post, and knowing how much work goes into fixing that kind of image, I really appreciate the work you're putting in here. Here's one of my favourites in return:
ReplyDeleteThe Art of Modern Lace Making
Two of favorite things in one post!
ReplyDeleteNice work. Thanks.
I itch to know how to make the lace. (The calligraphy I can sort of do, when I put my mind to it.)
ReplyDeletekarla, come on over to Arachne, the lace list (see subscription information at http://www.geocities.com/heartland/fields/1404/handbook.html);
ReplyDeletewe'll be delighted to get you started on lacemaking. I know we have lacemakers near you!
J, thanks for the link, I've tagged it for future reference (no time currently to learn any new fun skills).
ReplyDeleteAmazing - thank you
ReplyDelete