MICKIEWICZ ADAM
VOLUME ONE OF THE POEMS
volume one
Vilnius 1822, printed by Jozef Zawadzki, pp. 153, format: 12.5x17 cm
HARDCOVER IN PERIOD SUEDE LEATHER. DECORATIVE EMBOSSED AND GILT MOTIF IN MIRROR OF FRONT FACE. DECORATIVE LINING
The author of the binding is probably the famous Warsaw bookbinder Franciszek Joachim Radziszewski (1876-1941) [no signature].
His art, so to speak, went against the grain of modern artistic tendencies. His individual style was formed under the influence of English ideas of reaching back to the roots of crafts, to medieval art. It is a mixture of medieval aesthetics, classical and empire setting with elements of national art - Zakopane folklore. Characteristic of his works are numerous gold embossing, with his own hand-designed pistons with fanciful drawing of floral, animal or symbolic motifs. Filigree gilding done on a colorful, usually red and green background gave the bindings a colorful effect, even though the bindings themselves were usually made of natural calfskin.
"Radziszewski was the greatest Polish master of bookbinding leatherwork." Source: W. Łysiak, "Empireum" vol. I. p. 102, Wyd. Nobilis, Warsaw 2004
Condition DB/ minor scuffs and folds of binding edges, yellowing of pages
