Book binding is an ancient practise, with records dating back as far as the first recorded books. The longest surviving of these dates bath the 8th century! Written works were bound to protect them and make them last longer, and a variety of materials were sued, from cloth to leather – and even human skin.
Putting a modern spin on this (no skin required) is Latvian artist Aniko Kolesnikova. Under the moniker Mandarin Duck she has gone on to create some fairy tale like covers for books. Luckily her covers are made from polymer. They come in various designs, yet are mainly inspired from fantasy and nature.
Her works are truly spectacular, giving lifelike appearances books. She even takes custom orders from time to time, and you can see just how she works her magic through her YouTube tutorials.
More info: Etsy | mandarin-duck.com | Facebook | YouTube