STUDIO ROBERT WU

Van Gogh “Dear Theo” - “Millimeter” binding with a slipcase covered with my signature sunflower paste paper design and edged with leather strips.

George Barbier- Vingt-cing costumes pour le theatre 1927 Chez Camille Bloch & Jules Meynial, Paris. Copy number xiii/xxv hors-commerce. (13/25) With exquisite 25 pochoir (stenciled) plates.

Designed and bound by Robert Wu 2022-2024, Toronto.

Bound in full French-technique with chemise and slipcase. The binding is bound in pink goatskin and the interior doublures in dark purple goatskin with lavender suede flyleaves. Hand sewn French double headbands with Japanese silk threads in blue red and white. Gilding and titling are done with 22k gold leaves and palladium leaves. The cover is inlaid with my invented “Faux Ivoire” specialty panel. The chemise and slipcase are edged with pink leather and covered with my own hand pastepaper in dandelion & in my own special sunflower pattern. The cover design is inspired by the paper binding cover designed by Barbier and arabesque frame.

The binding is housed in an Italian linen covered folding box with my “Cradle box” feature built in to display the binding.

The binding measures 13 1/2” x 10” x 1 3/4” closed. (Quarto size)

The Science and Engineering of Water by Mark Andrews, Toronto, 2022

The design follows the dust jacket antique 17th century illustration and it continues from the exterior to the interior covers.

Binding dimensions (closed): 9”x12”x2”

Bound in full French technique in blue goatskin for the cover and turquoise goatskin for the interior doublures with turquoise pig suede endpapers. All edges coloured in blue and sprinkled with white. French-style double headbands in blue, turquoise and brown Japanese silk threads. All board edge standing squares and headcaps are gilt with 22k gold leaves. Wrinkled leather onlay technique with other French mosaic onlays are outlined and decorated with various textured leathers to create the design. Foil dot tooling adorns the sparkling water. Signed in the bottom interior front doublure cover. My own jade green bouquet marbled paper are used for the flyleaves. Housed in a brown cloth covered folding box, lined with cork gold paper. With a piece of leather label.

Private collection. Completed in July 2024, Toronto

"An Empyreal Retinue" by Josiah Bancroft 2021 & Illustrated by Tom Kidd.

A special design fine binding commission with handwritten manuscript by the author and several original illustrations in Sepia by Tom Kidd. It's an one-off original edition! What a collaboration!

The binding is bound in full French-technique complete with a chemise (jacket) and etui (slipcase). The book is bound in dark purple goatskin. The head is coloured in blue and guaffered with silver dots. Handsewn Japanese silk headbands in blue, yellow and purple. Leather onlays in various textured coloured leather pieces. Gilding done in 22 k gold leaves and palladium leaves. Chemise and slipcase and endpapers are covered with my own special hand marbled paper. Inside pastedowns are lined corkpaper and the chemise is lined with purple suede and blue velvet. All titlings are done in 22k gold leaves with a typeholder and handset type. The clamshell box is covered with Italian linen and lined with corkpaper. Binding dimensions: 7" x 10" closed.

Private collection.

Double elephant folio Jewish bible volume 1 containing 50 plus exquisite original hand calligraphy and cover circular inlay panel hand drawn & cover designed by Toronto Jewish calligrapher artist Karny Vorona.

The book measures 31 2/8” x 24 3/8” (closed). With all the plates hinged and sewn together.

Bound in 5 large pieces of goatskin leathers in dark blue and turquoise. Onlays of gold and purple leathers. Inlay of a panel with original artwork. Inside gold paper flyleaves.

Housed in a linen covered folding box lined with beige suede. Title leather label stamped in gold.

JC Mardrus & FL Schmied’s “La Creation” 1928 Paris

Binding designed and bound by Robert Wu in Toronto from 2019-2022

An epitome of Art Deco livre d’artiste. Franco-Swiss bookartist Francois Louis Schmied’s masterpiece “La Creation” is a shining example of 20th century book design and printing. It’s a lavishly illustrated production of the first three chapters of Genesis. All 42 colour woodcut prints (highlighted in gold or silver), layout, design, printing, illustrations are produced by Schmied and his son Theo at his famed Paris atelier. This large folio-sized book is signed and numbered 71 out of 175 limited edition (plus 20 unnumbered copies for the contributors) and is printed on Arches wove deckled edge paper (temoin in French meaning to witness).

The binding is bound in full French-technique (la reliure d’art) with brown goatskin for the cover. Inside leather doublures are covered with purple goatskin and the flyleaves are lined with teal suede and with the binder’s own special marbled paper. The bookpages are sewn on stubs (montage sur onglets) to allow the book to open flat. Handsewn French-style double headbands with fine silk threads. Various textured leather onlays and inlay panels of mother of pearl, abalone and egg shells are employed for the cover decoration. Gilding/finishing and titling are done with 22k gold leaves, palladium leaves and coloured foils. The chemise and slipcase are covered with the binder’s own marbled paper, brown morocco goatskin, corkskin and lined with blue suede and green velvet. The binding measures 11”x14”x2” (closed dimensions). Housed in a linen covered “cradle” clamshell folding box. Signed Robert Wu 2022 in gold leaf inside the lower margin of the back doublure cover.

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice 1894 edition London

Illustrated by Hugh Thomson

Bound in black and red leather. Covers are stamped with a variety of textures and titles. All edges coloured in red and decorated with gold foil. Handsewn silk headbands in red and black. My own red gold marbled endpapers. Housed in a black and red cloth covered slipcase.

The Elements of Euclid by Olivier Byrne, 1847 first edition. French style fine art design binding by Robert Wu, Toronto 2021.

The binding measures 8”x10” closed. Bound in full French technique with black goatskin leather. Various coloured leather onlays with gilding in gold leaves and palladium and colour foils. Inlays of eggshell and red specialty panels.

Hand sewn silk headbands in red blue and yellow with interior leather doublures and black suede. Chemise slipcase covered with my own paste paper. Housed in a linen folding box.

Private collection.

“Victorian Calling Cards” Designed & Bound by Robert Wu, Toronto.

A French-style design fine binding / album I created on a collection of Victorian calling cards I had collected over the years. It’s bound in full French technique with beautiful jade green leather. Hand sewn silk headbands in red, yellow and green. Onlays and inlays with various coloured/textured leathers. Gilding and tilting with 22k gold leaves and palladium. Covers are inset with white alum tawed leather panels and amounted with six “faux ivoire” specialty panels I invented. Endpapers and flyleaves are covered with cork skins and my own purple / gold marbled paper. Pages are made with red Japanese fine art paper. Housed in my invented “cradle box” lined with purple suede. A cradle box features the pull out folding easels within the folding box for storage and display purposes. The whole binding measures 13” x 11” x 2” closed. The album contains 291 pieces of antique Victorian calling cards with antique chromolithograph scraps. 95% are hidden name calling cards and the title page is salvaged from an old Victorian scrapbooking album.

Design concept: to resemble Rare antique “Agent’s Sample” books/catalogues with mounted specimens of the calling cards to showcase the company’s latest card selections for customers to choose and mail order from.

1866 First edition Appleton Alice's Adventures in Wonderland designed and bound by Robert Wu in 2018.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - Folio society edition

Designed and bound by Robert Wu, Toronto, 2020

Dimension: Quarto

Bound in full French technique and covered with brown and various green goatskin leather. All edges coloured in green with gold speckles. Handsewn French silk headbands in green, yellow and brown. Titling and gilding in 22k gold leaves with coloured foil toolings. Cover inset with my “faux ivoire” specialty panel featuring the interior illustration. Endpapers are my own hand marbled bouquet paper in red and gold. Flyleaves are corkskins. Housed in a linen bound clamshell folding box lined with corkskin.

A Matter of Size- Miniature Bindings and Texts 2019

This French design binding features 2 miniature panels in the style of Sangorski and Sutcliffe. The binding measures 9x12x2”. Bound in grey goatskin with relief leather panels and mounted miniature plaquettes. Gilding and tooling with 22k gold leaves and colour foils. French double headbands in red and blue threads. Edge decoration with my unique blue dandelion pattern, tooled in gold dots. Interior flyleaves with gold cork paper pastedowns. Housed in a linen folding box lined with cork paper.

Private Collection

Say the Names by Al Purdy, printed by Alan Stein at The Church Street Press 2000 at Parry Sound.

Designed and bound by Robert Wu, December, 2019, Toronto.

A magnificent folio binding made in full French technique. The binding is covered with gorgeous brown morocco goatskin. The brocades are sewn on guards to allow ease of opening. French double headbands in yellow, red, white silk threads. Textured leather onlays and inlays with my unique collage specialty panels. Flyleaves are covered with my own hand marbled bouquet paper in reddish purples with gold. Titling done with 22k gold leaves. Housed in a linen covered folding box lined with gold corkskin paper. The folio binding measures 12” x 15” closed. Design: Canada as a multicultural mosaic.

Shakespeare’s King Richard III

Published by The Triple Anvil Press, Ann Arbor

Designed and bound by Robert Wu, 2019

Full French design binding bound in French blue chagrin goatskin, red goatskin on the spine and inlaid with relief white leather panels and mounted with my “faux ivory” panels. Titling in 22 k gold leaves. Corkskin gold paper pastedowns and my own reddish purple bouquet marbled paper flyleaves. Top edge is decorated in indigo with gold flecks. French double headbands in red, blue and white silk threads. Housed in a linen covered folding box. The binding measures 9 1/2” x 13” x 7/8” closed.

A Matter of Size- Miniature Bindings and Texts 2019

This French design binding features a whimsical design of miniature books with bookworms and bookmarks. The binding measures 9x12x2”. Bound in black French chagrin goatskin with Inlays of my invention “faux ivoire” panels. Gilding and tooling with 22k gold leaves and colour foils. French double headbands in Lavender, white silk threads. Edge decoration with my unique purple dandelion pattern, tooled in silver dots. Interior flyleaves with my own alphabet paste paper and gold cork paper pastedowns. Housed in a linen folding box lined with lavender suede.

Collection: The Grolier Club, NYC

Portrait de Germaine de Coster, Paris, 1960. Printed on Rives Vellum limited edition of 200 copies of which this is No 125. Signed in the colophon G. de Coster

Designed and bound by Robert Wu, Toronto, 2019. Closed book dimensions 13 1/2” x 11”

A large quarto binding on the great French engraver Germaine de Coster. It’s bound in full French technique with morocco red goatskin. Inlaid with my new invention Faux tortoiseshell specialty panels in addition to my Faux Ivoire panels and eggshell panels.

Gilding with 22k gold leaves and soot. Interior flyleaves with my own stunning red marbled paper and pastedown with cork gold paper.

Top edge gilt in gold with gauffering. Hand sewn silk headbands with red, black and yellow silk threads.

“Calling Canada Home” - Designed and bound by Robert Wu, 2019, Toronto

Book dimensions: 9” x 14” x 2 1/2” closed

The design of the binding is inspired by vintage postcards or letters to evoke the feelings of nostalgia and the hardships endured by Chinese immigrants to Canada in the early 20th century.

Bound in ivory buffalo leather. Handsewn silk headbands in red, yellow and orange. Top edge coloured and sprinkled in reddish brown and yellow and white. Various leather onlays and surface textures created with various techniques. Housed in a linen folding box lined with cork.

A spectacular art deco binding inspired by George Barbier’s Falbalas et Fanfreluches. The book consists of 5 volume almanacs from 1922 to 1926 with complete 60 exquisite pochoir plates by the legendary iconic artist. This quarto size binding measures 10 x 7” closed dimensions.

The binding is bound in full French technique (La reliure d’art). It’s covered with dark blue/black goatskin. Interior leather doublures are covered in violet goatskin with lavender suede flyleaves and my own hand marbled flower paper creation. The edges are coloured in navy blue with purple gauffering. Handsewn silk headbands in red, blue and white. All the plates are mounted on guards “Montage sur onglet” The cover is decorated with various colour leather onlays and gilding/titling are done with 22k gold leaves and palladium. Inset panels are my own special “faux ivoire” invention and eggshell panels. Chemise and slipcase are both covered with my own hand marbled paper as well. Everything is housed in a linen folding box lined with suede.

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray 1891, signed first edition copy No 43 / 250 copies

Designed and bound by Robert Wu, Toronto 2019

Bound in full French technique (Reliure d’art). This commissioned binding is covered with French red leather and inside leather doublures in black are decorated with leather onlays, eggshell panels, and gilding with 22k gold leaves and palladium. All three edges are coloured in teal with my sparkling edge treatment with hand sewn silk headbands in yellow green and brown. Chemise and slipcase and endpapers are covered with my own special hand marbled paper in red black and gold reserved for fine bindings. Flyleaves and chemise are lined with grey suede. Slipcase is lined with red velvet. Everything is housed in a linen covered box. Open book dimensions: 8” x 15” Box dimension: 7”x9”x2.5”

Design: I want to illustrate the contrasts between the protagonist and antagonistic characters of Dorian Gray. The viewer first encounters the beautiful yet simple gilt outline portrait of Dorian Gray on the front cover to show his shallow superficial “libertine” existence and at the back of the end cover, one eventually sees the grotesque true inner character of Dorian. I think the use of eggshell panel is very effective to convey his inner vanities and all the sins he commits like a crackled painting. The face is isolated and cut out from a piece of eggshell panel I made earlier and I try to see shape that resembles a face. The result is great and it looks like Dorian is crying blood.

The plot and moral story behind the novel are both thrilling and profound. I hope my design compliment the story. So much effort, skills, work & gilding went into the making, it actually consumed 3 books of 22k gold leaves (25 sheets per book)!

Quarto size binding "Bestiaire" by Simon Bussy. Paris

Designed and bound by Robert Wu 2017. Private collection.

Sandford's 1930 masterpiece Primeval Gods designed and bound by Robert Wu in 2017.

First Edition Mason's novel The Four Feathers designed and bound by Robert Wu 2018. A commissioned binding / Private collection.

“A Voyage Towards the Northpole” 1773 by Constantine J Phipps, London

Large quarto binding 21”x12” (open cover) bound in full French technique with eggshell and faux ammolite panels made by me. Hand sewn headbands in blue, green and yellow. Coloured textured leather onlays with gilding in palladium and 22k gold. Full suede doublure with corkpaper and marbled flyleaves by the binder. Housed in a linen folding box lined with blue suede. All 300 pages were washed and conserved prior to binding.

1930 Paris. Illustrated by Laboureur. Designed and bound in French morocco goatskin. Interior leather doublures. Housed in chemise and slipcase.

A sumptuous commissioned design art binding designed and bound entirely by me (Robert Wu of Toronto, Canada) in 2013 on one of Barbier's most important work. Personnages de Comédie is considered one of Barbier's best works. The illustrator had designed the entire layout and provided 12 full-page color illustrations along with two bandeaux and illuminated initials that decorated the text plates throughout. These were then engraved on wood and printed by François-Louis Schmied, the multi-talented artist whose work epitomizes the artistic heights reached in the production of luxury books during this period. In short, Personnages de Comédie shines as one of the finest examples of the beauty and sophistication of the Art Deco book

Copyright © 2019 Robert Wu. All Rights Reserved. All images and contents on this website might not be used or reproduced in any ways or forms without the artist’s permissions.

Quarto binding designed and bound by Robert Wu in 2018.

“Of Unicornes Hornes” by Sir Thomas Browne. Published by Cheloniidae Press 1984. Designed and bound by Robert Wu in September 2018

Bound in full red goatskin with black leather spine stamped in silver. Handsewn headbands in yellow red and blue. Top edge is decorated with my special blue “Sparkling Coloured Edge”. Inset white leather relief panel made by me with my special “Faux Ivoire” panels on the covers. Housed in a linen bound folding case with brown moire lining and a separate tray for housing additional plates.

This pop up tunnel book is inspired by the Victorian albums and tunnel books. The leather bound album measures 9” x 6” x 1”. It’s bound in green leather with inset relief leather panel I made in brown with Art Nouveau design. Title is stamped in gold. Endpapers are my own hand marbled paper in multi colour. It contains 6 pop up scenes.

A sumptuous binding for Designer Bookbinder International Competition. This binding was selected for the traveling exhibition. Full leather red doublures interior with inset opal. Three edges gilt in gold. Housed in a French chemise and slipcase.

A large quarto binding with special leather panels and interiors lined with my marbled endpaper. Housed in a folding box.

A commissioned binding - The design is inspired by the ceiling and floor plan of its interior. Top edge is coloured and gilt. Inside lined with suede doublure. My own hand marbled paper for flyleaves. Housed in a linen folding box.

A very early practice binding I made inspired by Mozart's Magic Flute Opera. Interior marbled paper by Robert Wu.

Mao's little propaganda red book. Designed and bound by Robert Wu with red leather and mosaic onlays. Top edge is gilt with 22k gold. Handsewn headbands in silk. Interior doublures are lined with suede and cork paper. Housed in a red folding box.

Barbier's Roman Momie designed and bound in the French tradition.

Designed and bound for David Mason bookseller of Toronto in 2017. 

First edition Tempest Tost by Robertson Davies.

A Danish millimeter paper binding covered with my own marbled paper. Housed in a folding box. Private Collection.

"Into This World" designed & bound in 2017.  With a solander pulled apart box.

A practice binding I first made back in 2006 with Tini Miura when it all began. And a miniature version of the same design for a collector.

Printed by William Morris. Designed and bound in the Arts and Crafts style. With my own marbled endpapers and housed in a folding box. Private Collection.

Written by Edgar Allan Poe. Dark tale with dark design.  Housed in folding boxes. Collection Private.

A Danish millimeter binding on the book about Water for Designer Bookbinders Frist International Competition in UK. Selected for the traveling exhibits. The cover is my own hand marbled paper. Private Collection.

An exquisite French binding with a collection of traditional Chinese paper-cuts. Housed in French chemise et etui.

Whale Songs binding for Bob Murphy.

By Edgar Allan Poe. Designed and bound by Robert Wu. Housed in a folding box. With my own marbled paper.

Mao’s Little Red Book

Designed and bound by Robert Wu, 2020, Toronto

The abstract design is inspired by 1930 Chinese propaganda posters which depicts Mao as the sun/leader guiding the red soldiers marching onwards with flags and little red books in hands.

Bound in full French technique with French red morocco leather. Top edge is decorated with my sparkling edge technique in blue and silver. Headbands are handsewn with red, blue yellow silk threads. Interior pastedown is covered with my own marbled paper and the flyleaves are lined with corkskins. Cover decoration is done with 22k gold leaves, palladium, and coloured foils. Inlay cameo portrait of Mao is made by me as well. Housed in a brown cloth covered folding box lined with purple suede and corkskin. Book dimension: 4” x 6” closed

A commissioned binding and for sale from the bookseller, please contact and visit www.childlit.com Battledore Books in USA.

An small exquisite manuscript bound in leather. The design was inspired by the Greek mythology. Bound in brown leather with mosaic leather onlays and tooling in gold. Marbled endpaper by Robert Wu as well. Housed in a brown folding box.

Wanderings of An Artist by Paul Kane. A gift binding

Shakespeare King Lear binding by Roycroft. Bound with green leather and inset "Faux Ivoire" specialty panel invented by me. Interior marbled paper hand marbled by me as well. Housed in a linen covered clamshell folding box.

Fables de St lavalette. Designed and bound with an image of a fox on the cover. Top edge gilt. Housed in French chemise and slipcase.

A large elephant folio album for a photographer.

A collection of antique photographs of Hawaii. The photos were removed from old scrapbook, flattened and remounted onto acid free Stonehenge papers and I then bound them into a leather album with image of Diamond Head done in leather collages. Housed in a red cloth covered folding box. Private Collection.

Designed and bound by Robert Wu for a Paris exhibition in Latin Quarter.

A gust book made for the Merril Collection at the Osbourne Children's Library in Toronto.

Message to Garcia printed by Roycroft. Bound in the French Simplified style. Housed in a linen folding box.

Album Marbled Graphics™ - an elephant folio album I made containing all my marbling art designs since 2000. French Simplified style binding with leather front and paper panel. Housed in a large linen folding box.