The Feather Book

July 20, 2006 2:27 PM

The Feather Book, digitized by and on display at McGill University: A seventeenth-century book containing illustrations of birds and men -- composed of real feathers, beaks, and claws. More information about the book and its contents and history can be read here.
posted by Gator (14 comments total)

Birds, men and pooping dogs, I see. The artistry and craftsmanship are most admirable, but some of the subject matter leaves something to be desired.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:31 PM on July 20, 2006

[this is really cool]
posted by interrobang at 2:36 PM on July 20, 2006

Gator, Fascinating post. Thank you. It's poignant to see images made of feathers. Of course I can't help thinking of the loss for the birds involved. It's also very interesting to see Italian folk art from Milan in 1618.

It reminds me of African butterfly wing art, more.
posted by nickyskye at 2:47 PM on July 20, 2006

this is amazing stuff, thanks! it got me to poking around about commedia dell'arte - there's some interesting background to the feather illustrations of the characters.
posted by cubby at 2:56 PM on July 20, 2006

What an idea, and what an execution.
posted by redsparkler at 3:31 PM on July 20, 2006

Really fascinating, but it kind of squicks me out. Ew. It's like those victorian pieces of hair art. Eeewww.
posted by GuyZero at 3:32 PM on July 20, 2006

Its only a matter of time until Damien Hurst does it with bits of human, so move fast is what I say...Can I donate my auntie?
posted by terrymiles at 3:37 PM on July 20, 2006

Fascinating stuff. It reminds me of the Derbyshire tradition of well dressing.
posted by bokeh at 5:05 PM on July 20, 2006

cubby, Thanks for the excellent, concise background on Commedia del'Arte. Immediately, I thought of Shakespeare's plays and now understand that must have been his background. Googled it now my appetite is whetted, a bit more and Wikipedia's info.
posted by nickyskye at 5:32 PM on July 20, 2006

Lovely, reminds me of bug art.
posted by jessamyn at 6:22 PM on July 20, 2006

jessamyn, That bug art is amazing!

Some geometric feather art.
posted by nickyskye at 8:18 PM on July 20, 2006

Feather fashion: Captain Cook’s Hawaiian Feather Cloak, 20,000 birds later.
posted by cenoxo at 8:45 PM on July 20, 2006

cenoxo, Wowee zowee, that was amazing. Here's a peach flame one from Hawaii and a contemporary feather cloak.

A Maori warrior in his. A young Maori woman in hers.

A feather frock.
posted by nickyskye at 9:27 PM on July 20, 2006

Very very cool, thank you.
posted by Lizc at 6:56 AM on July 21, 2006