Italian (Venice), binder, Commissione of a member of the Fradello family (?). Around 1580-2
Italian (Venice), Upper cover of the commissione of a member of the Fradello family (?), around 1580-2. Stamped leather with silver leaf and gold-toned varnish, height 22.5 cm x width 16.5 cm x depth 1 cm (closed). Accession Number: 4.a.2.4. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum © 2013 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Italian (Venice), Lower cover of the commissione of a member of the Fradello family (?), around 1580-2. Stamped leather with silver leaf and gold-toned varnish, height 22.5 cm x width 16.5 cm x depth 1 cm (closed). Accession Number: 4.a.2.4. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum © 2013 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Italian (Venice), Inside upper cover of the commissione of a member of the Fradello family (?), around 1580-2. Paper and leather, height 22.5 cm x width 16.5 cm x depth 1 cm (each). Accession Number: 4.a.2.4. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum © 2013 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Leather with sunk-panels of floral arabesques, fleurons, and leone in moleca, about 1580-2.
This lavish binding's almond-shaped central medallion, scalloped corner-pieces and arabesque pattern, imitate Islamic gilt-lacquered bookbindings, which came to Venice in large numbers through trade and war with the Ottoman Empire. They created a fashion in late sixteenth-century Venice for Ottoman-style decoration on a variety of luxury items, including commissioni, parade armor, wall-hangings, caskets, cabinets, and musical instruments. The coat of arms on the lower cover is possibly that of the Fradello family.
Source: Anne-Marie Eze, Illuminating the Serenissima: Books of the Republic of Venice, special exhibition on view in the museum's Long Gallery, May 3 through June 19, 2011.
See related images for other examples of East meeting West in Venetian Renaissance art and Islamic art in the museum's collection.