Ducale granted by the Doge Marino Grimani to Giovanni Alvise Morosini

In Venice by the mid-1560s the book binding business was being influenced by oriental art and the exotic style of binding emanating from Greece, Persia and the Middle East. In particular the richly ornate sunk-compartment binding style was used for the binding of ducales and commissions from the Doge of Venice to state officials.

These bindings used two layers of board, with the upper board cut out in compartments, creating a sunken effect. The sunken compartments were then decorated by stamping with metal blocks in the shape of the cutouts. These blocks were generally engraved with floral designs or arabesques, brought out in relief by the stamping process. Gold lacquer and coloured pigments could then be used to highlight the designs. The central compartment would be blocked with the lion of St Mark's and the lower board with the arms of the grantee of the ducale. The leather of the upper layer would also be richly ornate.

Such a specialised technique, with metal blocks that could only be used for the purpose, was carried out by only a few businesses. Small variations in the blocks and the ornamentation of the panels could be used to distinguish the binders.

Ducales consisted of 'the letter of appointment and the laws, decrees and conditions pertaining to the position' and were usually written in Venetian chancery hand. They were generally bound by their recipients.

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