Service Description

There is a toy theatre thread that runs through the current crop of books. Between the Peepshow and the moveable books there is the Harlequinade book - also known as a lift-the-flap book. On the stage the Harlequinade was a precursor to the Victorian pantomime, itself part of Victorian theatre and then toy theatre tradition, so the motif of dressing up and cross-dressing runs through this too. The Harlequinade book is an important link in the history of moveable books which we are tracing. Monsters and metamorphoses are a good subject for these 'changing faces' types of turn-up books. Having done a Medieval Islamic bestiary (the Book of Useful Animals), we now turn to one of the 4 great classic novels of China, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, also thought of as a Chinese bestiary, similar to the wonder genre of books such as Marco Polo's Travels or Il Milione. This book about mythic geography tells of fantastic creatures and wonders such as a 9-tailed fox, people with 3 heads and pigs that fly. We'll take inspiration from this ancient book and the Harlequinade format will also allow new creations to be made and bring these into a new dimension. And of course we will also add colour. Class includes a bespoke handmade leather cover to paint and free postage to anywhere in the world. Sent separately depending on production schedules. Make your own library of handmade Islamic style books!