Published in 1896, the Kelmscott Chaucer was the last book printed at Morris’s press in Hammersmith. With illustrations by Burne Jones and decorations by Morris, it was universally hailed as the greatest book of its age. In 2012 Dominic was presented with a copy, in poor condition, with a view to creating a contemporary artistic binding for it. This lecture is the record that process. He will give an overview of the press, and then talk about his very demanding commission, from the early designs to the completion of the project. The completed binding is now in the Special Collections of the Victoria and Albert museum.
This is a virtual event. The webinar will be recorded and sent to all registered attendees. Cost is $15.
Dominic Riley is an award-winning binder and restorer with work in many public and private collections. He has won over thirty prizes for his design bindings and restoration work, including both first prizes in the Designer Bookbinders Competition in 2007, and the first prize in the prestigious Sir Paul Getty International Competition in 2013. He is a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders and an accredited Arts Society lecturer.
