VAM galleries including this work:
The Kentucky Historical Society | Do You See a Pattern? | How’d They Do That? || VAM Home

This book is representative of the craftsmanship and artistry demonstrated in small-press books. The cover papers were marbled by Mary Spears, and the book was bound by the Monastery Hill Bindery. The marbling is unique on each of the 200 copies printed in this edition of the book. The book was set by hand in Goudy Oldstyle and printed on Whitehead & Alliger’s Ivory Archer paper. Mr. R.P. Swango’s press was used. The three illustrations for the book were reproduced by deep-etch offset lithography by the Duenewald Printing Corporation, and Raymond Barnhart designed the printer’s device used on the title page.

Classroom Ideas

Discussion: What makes this art? Why would multiple copies of a book include a unique facet such as the hand marbling? Where is marbling seen today?

Activity: Find out more about the process of marbling and, if possible, try it in class. Create marbled papers (possibly as part of a bookmaking project) or marbled fabric items.

Links

Princeton Online’s Incredible @rt Department includes a teacher-created lesson on marbling using shaving cream.
[www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/marbling.htm]

You’ll find extensive information about the history, process, and types of marbling at The Ancient Art of Marbling on Paper and Fabric.
[members.aol.com/marbling/marbling/]

The ArtLex web site includes an article on marbling, with instructions for marbling fabric.
[www.artlex.com/ArtLex/m/marbling.html]

For more information, visit the Society of Marbling.
[www.marbling.org]