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Church of England. Book of Common Prayer

Book of Common Prayer with the Psalms 1687

Contemporary red goatskin binding; gold-tooling throughout. Identical ‘panel’ design on both sides: outer double fillet border and inner panel formed of three borders of alternate dotted roll and a triple fillet lines, with dotted roll line running through each of the corners to create a three-dimensional pattern. Triangular floral tools on each of the four outer sides of the panel, and triangular floral tool with pointed flower on each of the outer corners. Innermost section of the panel profusely decorated with single fillet strapwork, swirling vines, flowers, droplets and semi-circles. Arms of James II in the centre of binding, surrounded by the garter and surmounted by a crown, with the initials ‘I R’ on either side (these arms possibly added later). Edges and inside of both boards tooled with floral roll. All edges gilt and goffered, with dotted and semi-circular borders, flower-heads, droplets, hearts, diamonds and strapwork. The centre of the fore-edge contains a circular tool surmounted by two hearts with the initials ‘I R’. The heart-shaped tools used on the edges are very similar (if not identical) to those used on the spine. This may suggest the spine and edge decoration was completed at the same time, possibly later than the decoration on the left and right boards when James II’s arms were added. Spine divided into seven compartments by raised bands. Each compartment profusely decorated using many different tools, predominantly floral with acorns, hearts built up from vines, ovals and quatrefoils. Designs used in pairs and threes, with the same on the first, fourth and seventh compartments, the second and sixth and the third and fifth. Head and tail sections of spine decorated with three bands of floral roll. Right board much more worn and faded than left. Design very similar to bindings produced in the Mearne workshop. | 41.5 x 27.2 x 5.5 cm (book measurement (conservation)) | RCIN 1059648

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