The Helen Fragments

In Private Collection (USA)

Translated from Homer’s Iliad by Richard Seibert
Illustrated by Winifred McNeill

Published by Editions Koch #OS-38 for the Open-Set Competition 2024. Signed by the translator and illustrator
Bound by Glenn Malkin (2024)

Three-part binding structure. Craquelle leather spine with title in gold. Boards covered with spiderweb Lokta paper and decorated leather mosaic squares casually applied. Mosaic pieces decorated by blind tooling, spirit leather dyes and gold leaf, with edges coloured with black ink. Hand-sewn multicoloured silk endbands. The top edge of the book is decorated with acrylic ink, sprinkled gold leaf and gauffered impressions. The other edges are left deckled. There are full edge-to-edge leather doublures inlaid with raised mosaic pieces. Suede endpapers.

The design is inspired by the many representations of Helen found in ancient Mediterranean mosaics, the loose placement of the pieces and the random decoration alluding to the chosen fragments of Homer’s original text creating beauty from partial form.

This binding was my set-book submission to the Open-Set Competition 2025 organised by the American Academy of Bookbinding. It was selected to be amongst those included in the subsequent touring exhibition.