Elaborate book covers have been Aniko Kolesnikova’s passion since 2009. The Latvian designer-artist, working under the name Mandarin Duck, specializes in creating dragon-, animal-, bird-, fantasy-, and nature-inspired polymer journals. She occasionally takes custom orders, too.
Bookbinding in the West is recorded from the 5th century onwards, although the earliest surviving book is the 8th-century St. Cuthbery Gospel. Books were bound in materials such as wood, leather, and cloth, but did you know that some books were also bound in human skin? This is called anthropodermic bibliopegy.
Kolesnikova has made YouTube tutorials on journal cover design too, so if binding with skin isn’t your thing, she’ll teach you how to do it with polymer. Check out some of her work below:
More info: mandarin-duck.com | Etsy | Facebook | YouTube
Frog
Owl
Indian Elephant
Nature’s Footprint
Seduction
Starry Eyed
Insect
Floral Journal
Skull & Roses
The Lighthouse
Blue Dragon
These beautiful book bindings are available on Etsy