Celtic Design and Ornament for Calligraphers [Paperback]

Jack Mackinder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

A study of Celtic design and ornament for calligraphers. It is divided into two parts. Firstly, it explains how the pages of the "Book of Kells", the "Book of Durrow" and the other great Gospel manuscripts of the 7th to 9th centuries were set out by the ancient scribes. The author has recreated the precise geometric methods they used, explaining how these strategies can be applied. Secondly, it shows how to draw step patterns, key patterns, interlaces and spirals to fit into the shapes created in the manuscripts. By following the step-by-step demonstrations and diagrams, readers should be able to make their own designs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500280940
• ISBN-13: 978-0500280942
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,246,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author's reply to the reader from Chandler, March 6, 2003

By 

Jack Mackinder (Auckland 1008 New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Design and Ornament for Calligraphers (Paperback)

Your reviewer from Chandler has missed it entirely.

Anyone considering buying my book should be aware that it is all about creating your own designs in the style of the 8th century Insular manuscripts, not about copying someone else's examples.

"basically shows the basic border layouts"
What the book shows is the precise, geometrically defined rectangles that the 8th century Irish scribes used.

"doesn't really give any examples of knotwork, etc."
The 10 pages of knotwork describe a method for designing your own knotwork rather than merely copying someone else's examples. If the "etc." means step patterns, key patterns, and spirals then 20 pages are devoted to creating these designs to neatly fill in the frames. Notice that the frames are drawn first and then ornamented - it is not a case of ruling up a frame of arbitrary size and shape around an ornament.

"If you can use a ruler and circles template you don't need this book."
Quite right. If a ruler and circles template is all you can use then this book is no use to you. Only if you can use a T-square, set square, and a compass (a circles template won't do) will you get any benefit from the book.

Jack Mackinder, author

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, February 7, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celtic Design and Ornament for Calligraphers (Paperback)

This book basically shows the basic border layouts to use for Celtic designs but doesn't really give any examples of knotwork, etc. used to fill in the borders. For example, the design on the front jacket of the book is not indicative of what's inside. The basic template of the jacket decoration (ie - the shape of the border) is shown, but not the detail work of the knotwork, etc. If you can use a ruler and circles template, you don't need this book.