An Elephant in the Bindings: A Rare Appearance ?
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This small but intriguing tool is found on the beautiful early Renaissance bindings of four of our incunabula. It shows a four-legged animal with a long protruding nose carrying a square basket on its back, which is covered with a tasselled rug, and flying a flag bearing a cross. The image immediately brings to the mind representations of war elephants carrying warriors in their howdah, and it seems to me that this little tool also represents an elephant. Continue reading 'An Elephant in the Bindings: A Rare Appearance ?'»
