Gray Parrot is one of America's foremost bookbinders, serving collectors, publishers and libraries since 1973. His most distinctive fine bindings feature gold tooling and leather onlays, often using his own hand decorated marbled or paste papers as doublures and end-leaves. He owns a significant collection of antique gilding tools which he employs in the creation of complex designs that are both modern and reflective of the period of the book.
Mr Parrot received his training under the tutelage of the late Master Bookbinder Arno Werner, who was himself trained in the guild system in Germany. Mr Parrot subsequently studied fine finishing techniques at the Legatoria Artistica in Ascona, Switzerland. He established his own bindery in 1973 in Hancock, Maine, where, but for an 8 year interlude in Massachusetts, he has continued to pursue his career in fine hand bookbinding.
His work may be found in major libraries and museums and on the shelves of discerning book collectors the world over. For much of his career, Mr Parrot has pursued edition binding for private presses, such as Leonard Baskin's Gehenna Press, Dard Hunter's Mountain House Press, Henry Morris' Bird & Bull press and the newer Khelcom/New York press of Peter Bogardus.
After forty years as a professional hand bookbinder, Mr Parrot recently decided to focus his attention on the creation of exquisite compositions that employ traditional design elements and antique tools & gold leaf, combined with leather and his own decorated papers to produce sumptuous modern bindings and housings for rare books. All of Mr. Parrot's work is as archivally sound as anything involving the use of leather can be.
Mr Parrot received his training under the tutelage of the late Master Bookbinder Arno Werner, who was himself trained in the guild system in Germany. Mr Parrot subsequently studied fine finishing techniques at the Legatoria Artistica in Ascona, Switzerland. He established his own bindery in 1973 in Hancock, Maine, where, but for an 8 year interlude in Massachusetts, he has continued to pursue his career in fine hand bookbinding.
His work may be found in major libraries and museums and on the shelves of discerning book collectors the world over. For much of his career, Mr Parrot has pursued edition binding for private presses, such as Leonard Baskin's Gehenna Press, Dard Hunter's Mountain House Press, Henry Morris' Bird & Bull press and the newer Khelcom/New York press of Peter Bogardus.
After forty years as a professional hand bookbinder, Mr Parrot recently decided to focus his attention on the creation of exquisite compositions that employ traditional design elements and antique tools & gold leaf, combined with leather and his own decorated papers to produce sumptuous modern bindings and housings for rare books. All of Mr. Parrot's work is as archivally sound as anything involving the use of leather can be.