FORE-EDGE CARVING/PAINTING

In the Middle Ages artists began decorating books by painting the edges of the closed book.  In the early sixteenth century, the British refined the art and made it a specialty.  The technique requires clamping the book in a vise, beveling the edges of the pages, and with a scalpel-like instrument, scribing an outline of a scene.  Color pigment is then applied to the incised paper with a minuscule palette knife.  When dry, the book is closed and golf leaf is applied to the ends and front edge (fore-edge) thus concealing the painting.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE has made the collection of these rare and unique works of art a specialty, offering the most extensive selection to be found.