Original Art: Gold-tooled leather bindings

Era: Contemporary art in a Renaissance style

Region: Made in Canada with European influence

Design Inspiration: “Foiled”

The timeless beauty of an antique leather journal is brought into the present with this intricately decorated, leather-like cover. Gold tooling, a hallmark of Renaissance bookbinding, features a bold foliage pattern on a deep red background, honoring this delicate craft originally introduced to Europe through Eastern trade.

Early Paperblanks covers were inspired by manuscripts of Shakespeare, later including Hemingway and Jane Austen, forming the Embellished Manuscripts Collection. Minimalist beige-and-black designs eventually evolved with a gold frame, based on a small piece of gold embellishment photographed by our Art Director.

Removing the manuscript revealed the potential for designs inspired by classic Renaissance leather bindings, leading to the foundation of the Old Leather Collection. Today, this original style continues to underpin two of our most enduringly popular collections.