mudéjar style
A style of Spanish bookbinding of the 13th and
early 14th centuries. In the most typical of such
bindings the main decorative feature consists of a
blind geometrical pattern with double outline
interlacings (strapwork), with either all or part
of the background being filled in with dots, small
tools, and the like. Various types of small oblong
or square stamps were also used, not all
mudéjar in character. In typical Muslim
tradition, however, tools representing living
creatures were avoided. Although the
characteristic mudéjar binding was
decorated in blind, later bindings were decorated
in both blind and gold. Most of the mudéjar
bindings have wooden boards (and the remainder
pasteboards) and the majority are covered in CORDOVAN LEATHER .
The name derives from the Mudéjares, or
Moors, who remained in Spain during and after the
Christian reconquest of that country. See also:GÓTICO-MUDÉJAR STYLE . (245 , 330 )
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