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 Karen Hanmer Book Arts
New
Design Bindings
Featured Design Bindings
Historic Structures
Leather Fine Bindings
Contemporary Structures
Fine Press
Literature
Antiquarian
Fish Parchment
Book About Books
Artists' Books
Featured Artists' Books
History & Culture
Civic Lessons
Sculptural & Movable
Place & Time
Photo Based Works
Book Structure Models
Featured Structure Models
Historic Structures
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Sets
About
About Karen
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Bibliography & Publications
Awards & Commissions
Workshops/Lectures/Visiting Artist
Public Collections
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New
Folder: Design Bindings
Back
Featured Design Bindings
Historic Structures
Leather Fine Bindings
Contemporary Structures
Fine Press
Literature
Antiquarian
Fish Parchment
Book About Books
Folder: Artists' Books
Back
Featured Artists' Books
History & Culture
Civic Lessons
Sculptural & Movable
Place & Time
Photo Based Works
Folder: Book Structure Models
Back
Featured Structure Models
Historic Structures
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Sets
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Back
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Gallery Unabridged
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Unabridged

$2,000.00

Unabridged

Linen thread, some made into sewing supports by the binder; wood boards; repurposed Random House Unabridged Dictionary pages, parchment hooked endleaves. Thread color and wood for boards vary. Created 2020.

approximately 4 x 4 x 13”
Series of 20

In late 2018 I responded to a call for entries to make a book from one volume of a 1910 encyclopedia that would otherwise have been discarded. I viewed the book as a supply of wonderfully thin but surprisingly strong paper with a lovey, subtle pattern. The strength provided by packed sewing on double cords supplemented with endbands with frequent tie-downs transformed the binding into a kind of medieval slinky.

Early in the Pandemic while I listened to my Governor's daily hour-long briefing, I began work on a series of similar but much thicker books, each made from one entire Random House Unabridged Dictionary. The bindings are stripped down to their most elemental structure: paper, linen, wood. Any ornamentation comes only from those materials: the pattern of the text, the tone and grain of the wood, the color of the thread and the sewing supports. I began to vary the later by making my own sewing cord from linen thread using historical rope-making techniques.

Note: Please note these sets are made to order and may not be available for immediate delivery. Normal turn-around time is six months.

Quantity:
Add To Cart

Unabridged

Linen thread, some made into sewing supports by the binder; wood boards; repurposed Random House Unabridged Dictionary pages, parchment hooked endleaves. Thread color and wood for boards vary. Created 2020.

approximately 4 x 4 x 13”
Series of 20

In late 2018 I responded to a call for entries to make a book from one volume of a 1910 encyclopedia that would otherwise have been discarded. I viewed the book as a supply of wonderfully thin but surprisingly strong paper with a lovey, subtle pattern. The strength provided by packed sewing on double cords supplemented with endbands with frequent tie-downs transformed the binding into a kind of medieval slinky.

Early in the Pandemic while I listened to my Governor's daily hour-long briefing, I began work on a series of similar but much thicker books, each made from one entire Random House Unabridged Dictionary. The bindings are stripped down to their most elemental structure: paper, linen, wood. Any ornamentation comes only from those materials: the pattern of the text, the tone and grain of the wood, the color of the thread and the sewing supports. I began to vary the later by making my own sewing cord from linen thread using historical rope-making techniques.

Note: Please note these sets are made to order and may not be available for immediate delivery. Normal turn-around time is six months.

Unabridged

Linen thread, some made into sewing supports by the binder; wood boards; repurposed Random House Unabridged Dictionary pages, parchment hooked endleaves. Thread color and wood for boards vary. Created 2020.

approximately 4 x 4 x 13”
Series of 20

In late 2018 I responded to a call for entries to make a book from one volume of a 1910 encyclopedia that would otherwise have been discarded. I viewed the book as a supply of wonderfully thin but surprisingly strong paper with a lovey, subtle pattern. The strength provided by packed sewing on double cords supplemented with endbands with frequent tie-downs transformed the binding into a kind of medieval slinky.

Early in the Pandemic while I listened to my Governor's daily hour-long briefing, I began work on a series of similar but much thicker books, each made from one entire Random House Unabridged Dictionary. The bindings are stripped down to their most elemental structure: paper, linen, wood. Any ornamentation comes only from those materials: the pattern of the text, the tone and grain of the wood, the color of the thread and the sewing supports. I began to vary the later by making my own sewing cord from linen thread using historical rope-making techniques.

Note: Please note these sets are made to order and may not be available for immediate delivery. Normal turn-around time is six months.

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KAREN HANMER Book Arts

Glenview, Illinois, USA
karen@karenhanmer.com

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