Historie des Ouden en Nieuwen Testaments ('De Grote Bijbel van Mortier') 1700 - 1702

This book cover, created between 1700 and 1702 by Pieter Mortier, is a prime example of elaborate Dutch bookbinding. The cover features a central, blind-stamped design, surrounded by a decorative, floral motif. The central design depicts an eagle, an emblem of power and authority, standing on a pedestal with wings outspread. This elaborate bookbinding style is a testament to the importance placed on fine craftsmanship during the Dutch Golden Age, highlighting the value of the book’s contents: the ‘Historie des Ouden en Nieuwen Testaments,’ a history of the Old and New Testaments. This binding, housed in the Rijksmuseum, demonstrates the meticulous details characteristic of 17th-century Dutch bookbinding techniques.