Bookbinding, Turkey, possibly early 18th century Leather, pasteboard, gold, silver, AKM989

Bookbinding, Turkey, possibly early 18th century Leather, pasteboard, gold, silver, AKM989

Paper, imported from China beginning in the eighth century, was soon adopted as a writing medium as well as a decorative surface for marbling, with distinctive techniques developed in the fifteenth century in Safavid Iran and Ottoman Turkey, as well as in India. So-called "Turkish paper" was highly sought by European markets to decorate books both inside and outside. This marbled paper doublure is in the Turkish 'combed' style (taraklı), named after the comb or rake-like tool that is pulled through the ink before the paper is dipped.

Aga Khan Museum

possibly early 18th century

Photographer Credit: Courtesy of the Aga Khan Museum

Aga Khan Museum

Dimensions: 21.2 x 14 cm

Materials: Leather, pasteboard, gold, silver

AKM989

Turkey