A signed binding by John Leighton for <span class="book">Home Thoughts and Home Scenes</span>

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Cloth binding

John Leighton

1865

Dark blue cloth with a gilt design

10¼ x 8 inches

This monumental gift book, illustrated by A. B. Houghton, is one of the Dalziel Brothers’ celebrated ‘Fine Art’ editions of the 1860s. The engravings were a strong selling point, but the Dalziels made sure of the book’s appeal by binding it in an elaborate livery by Leighton. [Continued below]

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Photograph and text by Simon Cooke

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The design unites Leighton’s naturalistic and decorative motifs; the outer border is a Renaissance arabesque and the two borders contained within this frame a Celtic interlace followed by a frieze composed of abstracted petals. The ovoid mandorla, Leighton’s signature device, is surrounded by leaves and tendrils. The whole effect is enhanced by the artist’s use of interval between the gilt patterns. Unlike most of Leighton’s designs, the binding bears no relationship to the contents and is purely ornamental. It is signed ‘JL’ in the mandorla and at the base of the spine. The book was issued in a plain leather binding at the same time as the cloth; both issues are rare.

Bibliography

Home Thoughts and Home Scenes. Illustrated by A, B. Houghton and with a binding designed by John Leighton. London: Routledge, Warne, and Routledge, 1865.

Created 1 December 2016