MERCHER (Henri) &
KLEE (Paul)
Paul Klee Lui-meme: 20 Oeuvres 1907 - 1940.
Very good, plexiglass covers with light scratches, internally fine.
A striking binding by Henri Mercher, utilising his preferred technique of painting under plexiglass. A partial continuation of Paul Klee’s artwork occupies a narrow strip of the upper cover, with the remainder left clear to float above the original laid in wrappers. The effect creates an unusual and engaging sense of depth which harmoniously blends binding and text.
Having studied at the École Estienne, Mercher (1912-176) first established himself as a decorative gilder in Paris in 1935, going on to establish his own bindery in 1948. His particular innovation was a unique method for attaching covers which allowed for the use of unorthodox materials, with cut and polished plexiglass being a particular favourite. He was one of the first French binders to step away from the use of more traditional binding materials, leading the way for later innovators such as Jean de Gonet.
