engraved bindings ( engraved silver silver bindings )
Book covers decorated with engraved precious
metals, usually portraying some Biblical or other
religious scene and frequently further adorned
with flowers, etc. The medieval custom of
enclosing important liturgical works to be used at
the alter in covers of precious metals died out in
Western Europe during the Renaissance, in favor of
richly embroidered velvet and (later) gold-tooled
leather bindings. The fashion for silver or
filigree, or even enamelled gold covers, however,
continued with devotional books for personal use
through the 18th century, especially in
German-speaking countries, Italy, and Spain. (347 )
![[CoOL]](/icons/sm_cool.gif){kind=icon}