Verzamelatlas met voorstellingen van Frankrijk Possibly 1693 - 1742

This is a French Atlas, assembled by diverse hands, featuring an elaborate cover made of tooled leather with gilded embellishments. The cover itself, visually sumptuous, speaks to the value placed on the knowledge contained within. The mottled leather, likely calfskin, has been treated and dyed to resemble marble, a surface of luxury. Then, a frame of gilded lines and corner ornaments was carefully applied. Finally, there is the central motif: Atlas himself, straining under the weight of the world. The amount of work involved in producing such a binding was considerable, involving specialist skills and expensive materials. Binding like this was a craft associated with wealth, power, and learning. It elevated the status of the book from a mere container of information to a treasured object in its own right. As you consider this atlas, let's appreciate the skilled labor that went into its making, recognizing that even the most functional objects can be imbued with cultural significance.