Iconic books are texts revered as objects of power rather than just as words of instruction, information, or insight. In religious and secular rituals around the globe, people carry, show, wave, touch and kiss books and other texts, as well as read them. This blog chronicles such events and activities. (For more about iconic books, see the links to the Iconic Books Project at left.)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Book-binder's Ritual Art



Maybe Quarterly (Spring, 2006) features the grimoire bindings of Paul Tronson. In an interview, the master book-binder describes his ritual practices when creating a grimoire's binding:

The main problem was that in order for it to become active and remain a very powerful tool I would need to be completely faithful in consecrating each seal and sigil which would need to be produced within the day and hour of it’s planet. Also a different Latin verse corresponding to each seal was chanted so the book was blessed and empowered during every part of it’s creation ...
Compare my previous post on restoring sacred objects. Tronson's own website provides considerably more information (and pictures) of the book-binders art, including his restoration of a Geneva Bible.

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