New Binding 2016 by Robert Wu







Just finished this commissioned binding for Fisher Rarebook Library of University of Toronto. The book is about it's former director Richard Landon. The design of the binding is inspired by the library's extraordinary interior. (it's ceiling, floor and elevation plans). The binding is bound in Fine Morocco goatskin and inside lined with suede and cork paper. Marbled flyleaves are made by me. Handsewn silk headbands in yellow and red. All edges colored in brown with gold sprinkles. Toolings done in 22k and 18k gold leaves and foils. Housed in a linen box lined with red suede as well. The finished binding measures 9" x 5 1/2". Collection: Thomas Fisher Rarebook Library.

My binding made it to the front cover~!



 
Well known New York based book collector Neale Albert has just published a sumptuous book about his miniature Shakespeare design bindings. The book illustrates numerous fabulous art bindings in full colours that accompany his upcoming exhibition this year at New York Grolier Club from March to May, and then at Yale Center for British Art from June to August. I am happy to say that Neale has chosen my binding for him on the front cover of the book. It's such a honour. You can order your copy of this big book from Yale University Press or Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Poet-Them-All-Shakespeare-Collection/dp/0300219121/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457798062&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=neale+ablert+poet+of+them+all

New Binding by Robert Wu 2016







Bound in blue goatskin. Colour leather onlays and gold/blind tooling with surface gilding. Edges sprinkled with 3 colour silk headbands. Marbled endpaper in grey bouquet by Robert Wu as well. Housed in a olive green clamshell box lined with elephant paper. Design concept: I want to show David's life as a bookseller and how books enrich his life . Can anyone see the city skyline formed by the books on the bookshelves in the background? The hidden message is this.... Books are David's life and he built his "empire" or city with books. Books are his life.

New Design Binding by Robert Wu October 2015




Tempest Tost by Robertson Davies. Designed and Bound by Robert Wu, 2015. This is a commissioned binding and it's been 2 years in the making and finally it's finished! Bound with the finest French morocco leather in dark violet. 3 edges decorated with dark blue colour and white/yellow sprinkles. Handsewn silk headbands in  pink yellow and blue. Cover decorated with various coloured leather onlays and tooled in colour pigments and gold leaves and foils. Endpapers are handmarbled by the binder as well. Box bound in linen and lined with my own marbled paper. Book Dimension: 5 3/8" x 8"

New Design Binding by Robert Wu September 2015


Just finished this beautiful binding on Whale Songs for R. Murphy for exchanging a guillotine. I am sure he will be pleased with it and sorry for the long two year wait !!!

New Miniature Binding by Robert Wu


Just finished another miniature binding on a book published by me 10 years ago. "Poems & Drawings" written, illustrated and published by Robert Wu of Little Gem Press, Toronto, 2004. The binding is a commission for a collector in the US. Designed and bound by Robert Wu 2014, Toronto in a stylized lily of the valley. Book measures 1" x 1 1/2" only.

New Design Binding by Robert Wu 2014

Design: I wanted to show the imagery of the cat lurking behind the fish bowl and preying on the dazzling Beta fish. The overlaying effect also signals its own demise when the cat was later drowned.


Technique: French fine binding technique bound in blue morocco. Handsewn silk headbands in blue, turquoise and green. Various coloured onlays with gilding in gold and tooling in colored foils. Endpapers and flyleaves are hand marbled by me as well. Housed in a leather bound solander case lined with velvet and covered with my own hand marbled paper in blue/gold stone pattern. Titling in gold on spine.
 
 

Letterpress Wedding Invitations

 
Just finished printing on my 100 year old antique treadle floor press for a customer's wedding letterpress invitations. They loved the letterpress printing I did for them. The customer did a great job in designing their invitations. The young couple has a keen eye for detail so they wanted me to do their wedding gifts too. The bride was captivated by my marbling art .... So after a few weeks, all 140 wedding gifts with sheets of my "Marbled Graphics" ™ in assorted designs were ready for them... I always find great pleasure when young people or the general public have an appreciation in traditional crafts, ie: printing by hand, bookbinding by hand and marbling by hand. Time honoured tradition will never go away. William Morris' tradition continues...

 
From my paper cabinet, marbled paper by Robert Wu for bookbinders, paper collectors, picture framers and day dreamers.....


Shakespeare's " A Mid-Summer Night's Dream " Designed & Bound by Robert Wu, 2012 Toronto

 
Shakespeare's "A Mid Summer Night's Dream"
 
Designed and Bound by Robert Wu, Toronto, 2012
 
Full French binding technique with chemise and slipcase. All edges gilt in rough and solid. Full leather doublure inside with Opal inlay and onlays. Handsewn silk headbands in blue, red and yellow.
 
All marbled papers are hand marbled by me specially for this binding on the box work, chemise and inside flyleaves.
 
Gilding and titling in gold, palladium and foil. Custom tools of fairies were made specially for this binding.
  
Design concept: The viewer peaks through the bushes into the nightly sky and sees fairies frolic around the ribbons. The ribbons form the shape of doubled hearts respresenting the human characters in the play. I hope to achieve this idea of constant play / struggles between reality and fantasy world.