Krause, Jacob ( 1526/7-1585 )
A German bookbinder who learned the craft in the
workshop of the famous Augsburg merchant bankers.
Krause was summoned to Dresden in 1566 and
appointed "Binder to the Elector of Saxony." In
the electoral decree appointing him to this
position it is specifically stated that he should
bind books in the "German, French, and Italian
fashion." Among his numerous bindings there are a
great number of blind-stamped pigskin bindings
decorated with panels and rolls, as well as a
group of richly gold tooled morocco and calfskin
bindings which he bound for the Elector. Krause's
bindings are noted for the technical excellence of
their gold tooling, no gilder outside of France
producing "a petits fers" gilding of such accuracy
and perfection. In artistic merit, however, while
a few of his bindings are considered to be
excellent, most are thought to be very much
overloaded with gold tooling and are too rich and
"restless" to be considered completely successful.
Krause's work, as well as that of his pupil and
successor, Caspar Meuser, is also remarkable for
the elaborately tooled and printed edges, on which
there is often the arms of Saxony and his
signature. K. F.—in small letters. (104 , 141 )
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