‘Sinuhe egyptiläinen’ by Mika Waltari
Full-leather binding with feathered onlays and edge painting.
The binding for this classic Finnish novel is inspired by the ancient Pharaohs’ Egypt. Edges are gilt with underlying edge paintings of Egyptian gods and the leather work echoes mummy-wrappings. The inner covers are lined with papyrus. This binding received the ‘Highly Commended’ award in the Society of Bookbinders’ competition in 1998, exhibited at the Barbican Gallery in London. This binding has also been exhibited in Lohja Museum in Finland, and is in many ways a seminal piece for myself, in terms of my journey as an artist and bookbinder.