Irish love-songs / selected by Katharine Tynan 1892

This is Katharine Tynan's "Irish Love Songs," and it is bound in tooled gold leather. The book is relatively small, so it may have been intended as a personal keepsake. It is a modest volume that has been elevated into a luxury object through skilled handcraft. The leather cover is densely decorated with traditional Irish motifs: shamrocks and hearts, repeated over the surface with incredible precision. This was achieved by pressing heated metal tools into the leather, leaving a permanent impression. The gold tooling isn't just decorative; it also protects the leather, making the book more durable. The process would have been labor-intensive, requiring great skill and patience. There is a tension here: the book presents songs of the people in a fine binding, which is itself the product of countless hours of labor. Considering the intricate designs on the cover and the time needed for the handcraft, this book is more than just a container for words; it's a testament to the value of craft in everyday life.