The Tempest

Bound by Nicky Oliver

The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
Designed, Printed and Signed by Mark McMurray
Caliban Press, Canton NY, 2001
Edition 94/125 - Signed 300 x 235 x 28mm
Bound 2022

Design - I have been experimenting with various dyeing techniques over the last few months for research and I created this dyed panel of goat skin. The moment I saw the result I knew it had to be for this book. The Rorschach-like pattern conjures up twisted faces within the stormy blue swirls - "A storm created by magic to exact revenge".

Technique - This is a full leather binding - tape and linen board attachment. The Hewit fair goat has been hand dyed using various leather dyes. Foil tooling to the front and back boards with patterned wire impressions. The end-bands have been hand sewn. Graphite and pigment edges head and tail with a deckled fore-edge. The edge-to-edge doublures are painted as well as the decorative folds on the verso of the petrol blue suede flyleaves.

You can see more of Nicky's work on her web site, Black Fox Bindery and on Instagram at @blackfoxbindery.