Le Chien Guingan et le Chat Calicot.
Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1977. (16)ff. From an edition of 250 copies illustrated in color by Marcie Collin and printed by Carol Cunningham, this copy is in a designer binding by Sonya Sheats. Evoking the fierce battle between the Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat, the artist envisioned "a tangle of lines tracing the tossing and tumbling" of the small beasts in the middle of the night," drawing sharp, angular, intersecting lines in red, blue, and gray enamel across the covers to map their struggle. This motion is set against a background of subtly textured and shaded natural dark parchment, which Sheats notes "has a soft, round, and whole presence." The binding structure is an homage to the influential German bookbinder Otto Dorfner, employing an open-joint style that he innovated. The spine is covered separately from the boards, which are then connected with four bands of pale blue water snakeskin. The ends of the bands are hidden under half-moon onlays of the same natural parchment. For contrast, the doublures are thin, bright white parchment. The book slides into a parchment-covered box etched with the title on one side in a modern, san-serif font. Elements of the design also hint at the influence of Brother Edgard Claes, her most important bookbinding mentor, including the sliding polycarbonate closure to the box which is painted with lustrous beige automotive paint. Sheats describes her work as part of the tradition of French fine bookbinding, mixing traditional techniques with modern materials. Extremely fine, protected in a blue microsuede pouch. (2 1/4 by 2 1/2; 57x64mm). Item #25658
Price: $1,750.00