BOOKBINDING TERMS
MOROCCO LEATHER
A vegetable-tanned goatskin leather used in the finest bindings; produced in and procured from North Africa.
CORNERPIECE
A design element conforming to the corners of a binding, often matching the centerpiece or other decorative elements.
FLEURON
A stylized flower or leaf motif.
DENTELLE
A fine, decorative lacelike border that draws the eye to the center of a binding; created through a buildup of small tool impressions.
ARMORIAL
A heraldic decoration indicating ownership or affiliation; located centrally on a binding, it functions as the centerpiece.
CENTERPIECE
A design placed at the center of a binding.
POINTILLÉ
A series of small, hand-tooled dots.
LOZENGE
A diamond-shaped decoration.
FILLET
A plain, straight line or series of lines, usually around the outer edges of a cover.
Nicolas-Denis Derome (1731–1790), binding of green morocco, with gilt tooling and armorial, on Tarif des droits d’aides et autres y jointes, 1771. The Morgan Library & Museum; MA 23394.