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Heavy, old books always seem like a mysterious and infinite well of wisdom and imagination for me. That moment, when you pick up a vintage book from a shelf and wipe away a thick layer of dust from its cover, is full of magic. However, the book is so much more than pages full of words it is also a true paper artwork.
I've always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life and turn them into unique artworks. Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries, and encyclopedias into beautiful sculptures.
I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so I invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well. Don‘t forget to vote for your favorites too.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Book Of Life
RELATED:
#2
Cave In A Book
DouglasJenkyns 10 years ago
It's a remarkably beautiful work of art, but maybe not ideal that this was done to a Bible. I think and hope the artists' intent was not to desecrate a holy book. I yearn for a world where everyone respects and cares about the feelings of each other, whether or not they agree; it's a first step to a peaceful world.
Christina Wall 10 years ago
With acreative imagination, it's a whole new way to explore a book!
#3
"Charon And The Door To A World Of Dreams" Book Sculpture
Final score:
143points
#4
Mountain Carved Out Of An Old Star Map
Barry Conner FineArts 10 years ago
Wonderful -- looks like a lunar landscape backed by sky charts!
#5
Carved Book Landscapes
#6
Old Books Carved With Surgical Tools
sabrina Tindall 10 years ago
Oooh this is like all body insides in one #makes me want to learn more
#7
House In A Field Book Art
Final score:
118points
#8
Herb Garden Book Sculpture
JulesCassidy 10 years ago
I love this: I feel I could lose myself pondering it's beauty ......
#9
The Little Match Girl - Handmade Book Sculpture By Karine Diot
Final score:
113points
#10
Alice In Wonderland By Susan Hoerth
Final score:
112points
DianeBosak 10 years ago
Very talented, but it still hurts my heart to know a book has been cut up.
#11
Dutch Bookweek Written Portraits
Final score:
111points
Fernanda Reyes 5 years ago
I wanted to know if you can tell me how you worked it because i´m trying to do "Don quijote´s " 3D´s face
#13
Massive Book Sculpture Of An Abandoned City
Christina Wall 10 years ago
Now that's impressive. Such detail especially when the whole set is all together. That is marvellous!
sabrinaTindall 10 years ago
That is so amazing I wish I one of my own that is better than art it self
#14
Skull Book Sculpture
Adrienne Louise Salvo 10 years ago
I hope when rats nibble our books it would turn out like this :3
#15
The Mad Hatter's Tea Party
EllenO'Neill 10 years ago
Lovely. A side note: Lewis Carroll never refers to The Mad Hatter, only The Hatter. The chapter is 'A Mad Tea-Party' & the 2 ideas elided.
BethGray 10 years ago
He is also often referred to as the Mad Hatter by people is because #1 the Cheshire cat says both The Hatter and March Hare are a mad and #2 because of the old saying "mad as a hatter," which comes from the fact that many hatters made hats out of felt and used high amounts of mercury to do so. The high amounts of mercury used caused many hatters to experience severe mental ailments. It was not uncommon for their speech to become slurred, their memory to go, and they could become highly unstable.
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sabrina Tindall 10 years ago
So saved this picture my whole family loves the mad hater he is so funy
#16
Jacqueline Rush Lee's Inked Books (Anthologia)
Final score:
83points
#17
Mayberry's Insects
#18
Old Books Turned Into An Interesting Piece Of Art
Barry Conner FineArts 10 years ago
Great sculptural effect! Sense of greater scale, 3-dimensional range, and depth. Nicely done.
#19
Hot Air Balloon Book Sculpture
RebeccaLescarbeau 10 years ago
I AM BLOWN AWAY by this art work and the people who too time to do this, they truly deserve awards, amazing & so beautiful, incredible job.
#20
Jacqueline Rush Lee's Inked Series (Nous: There's No Why Here),Transformed Philosophy Book 2014
Final score:
72points
mariannaarmata 10 years ago
I love this so much! incredible idea and fantastic results. Bravo Jacqueline.
#21
Books Installation In The Municipal Library Of Prague By Matej Krén
Final score:
71points
#22
Pablo Lehmann - "Thesaurus" (21 X 15 X 19 Cm.) Cut-Out Paper 2011
Final score:
62points
#24
Nouveau Larousse Illustre 5, 1907
Final score:
32points
#25
The Little Mermaid - Book Sculpture By Karine Diot
Final score:
31points
#26
The Paper House - Handmade Book Sculpture By Karine Diot
Final score:
31points
#28
Pablo Lehmann's "Naked Book" (26 X 15 X 6 cm) Cut-Out Paper 2007
Final score:
27points
#29
Meyers 12, 1928 + Meyers 10, 1928
Final score:
25points
#31
The Boy's Own Annual 1894
Final score:
23points
#32
37 Butterflies In Their Prime By Valerie Savarie
Final score:
21points
#33
Mount Rushmore Made From Old Phone Books
#37
Traveling On The Lake Book Sculpture
#39
In A Dream I Dreamt I Was Ligeia By Valerie Savarie
Final score:
17points
DaneStephenson 10 years ago
Valerie's work is amazing. She has a flare for the dramatic, but in a novel way. Her methods are quite technical, yet very creative.
#44
James Allen - "skulduggery" - 2012 - Jamesallenstudio.com
Final score:
11points
#45
Omar ~by Elizabeth Criss, 2004~ Residing At Los Angeles Public Library, Valley Plaza Branch
Final score:
9points
#58
Untitled, Kenji Nakama, 7 Encyclopedias, 50x30x50 Cms, 2011
Final score:
4points
Tamera Gumkowski 6 years ago
Very interesting , movement and architectural feel , simple but so intricate !
#59
Lovers Made Out Of War And Peace. Allison Glasgow Fakepapertrees
Final score:
4points
#60
Jacqueline Rush Lee "Endoskeleton" (Fired Book)
Final score:
3points
Karen Turner 10 years ago
Heat creates interesting images.I love to watch how paper curls as heat approaches it before it is engulfed in flame....
#61
Artwork Done By Me With Some Hard Cover Books. London < Ont
Final score:
3points
#66
Pearls Of Wisdom - Rare Notions By Phiona Richards - Rarenotions.co.uk
Final score:
2points
#76
John Sager "hagia Sophia" (36" X 19" X 10") -- Altered Book With Books, Cast Iron Barndoor Trol
Final score:
0points
#77
Altered Book Sculpture By Mademeathens Based On "great Expectations"
Final score:
0points
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What do you think ?
VirginiaLeeHostman 10 years ago
I hope none of those old books were first editions. Very creative.
alinadesuja 10 years ago
I Got Hooked On Having An Online Business Almost A Decade Ago When I Created An Online Course And Made My First.➜➜➜➜➜➜ｕｓａ－ｒｅｖｉｅｗ．ｃｏｍ
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TDarrellEubank 10 years ago
Books as decor. Ummmm. . . My oldest books, over 70 years old, I still use.
PinkBubble 10 years ago
Very detailed-fine work, mmh but i feel bad for the books! I am taught to respect it & i feel sorry for these poor things :(
NickBonardy 10 years ago
Somehow this idea does not appeal to me ! ... why Books ? ... use anything but Books .
Gisela Canizales 8 months ago
Me encanta este arte con libros y tengo tantos libros que puedo utilizar para desarrollar obras como éstas. He intentado venderlos y otros los he regalado pero, la tecnología y la pandemia del Covit, han menoscabado el buen hábito de la lectura del libro físico.
VirginiaLeeHostman 10 years ago
I hope none of those old books were first editions. Very creative.
alinadesuja 10 years ago
I Got Hooked On Having An Online Business Almost A Decade Ago When I Created An Online Course And Made My First.➜➜➜➜➜➜ｕｓａ－ｒｅｖｉｅｗ．ｃｏｍ
Load More Replies... TDarrellEubank 10 years ago
Books as decor. Ummmm. . . My oldest books, over 70 years old, I still use.
PinkBubble 10 years ago
Very detailed-fine work, mmh but i feel bad for the books! I am taught to respect it & i feel sorry for these poor things :(
NickBonardy 10 years ago
Somehow this idea does not appeal to me ! ... why Books ? ... use anything but Books .
Gisela Canizales 8 months ago
Me encanta este arte con libros y tengo tantos libros que puedo utilizar para desarrollar obras como éstas. He intentado venderlos y otros los he regalado pero, la tecnología y la pandemia del Covit, han menoscabado el buen hábito de la lectura del libro físico.
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