Pasiphae.

London: Golden Cockerel Press, 1950. No.310 of 500 copies. 6 copper engravings by John Buckland Wright. 8vo., designer binding by Nicky Oliver depicting bull’s horns in 22k gold with wood veneer, recessed vellum and walnut burl veneer inlays, black morocco onlays, full fair goat dyed with leather dyes using a miniature sponge to create a mosaic style pattern. Patterned paper and suede endpapers, acrylic wash and gold leaf top edge, others uncut. Housed in the original clamshell box with walnut burl veneer recessed strip and dyed vellum spine label.||Nicky Oliver’s design notes read: Pasiphae: the immortal daughter of the sun god Helios, wife of King Minos of Crete. Legend has it that her husband displeased the god Poseidon. As and act of revenge, Poseidon cursed Pasiphae to fall madly in love with Minos’s prized white bull. To satisfy her lust for the creature she employed the services of the great craftsman Daedalus to create a wooden cow- so that she could be “coupled” with the beast. The result of which was the birth of Asterion, better known as The Minotaur.
The book when opened reveals Pasiphae’s torso entwined with large golden cow horns. The recessed wooden veneers and vellum represent the wooden cow.
Nicky Oliver is a fellow of the Designer Bookbinders, working from her Black Fox Bindery and is well known for her accomplished exploration of different materials and techniques. Her bindings are much sought after and her work is represented in several major private and public collection.|