In my search of cabinets of curiosity and collections of the Enlightenment Era, I came across Wooden Libraries, or Holzbibliotheks or xylotheques, of the late 18th century. As the world was becoming documented by explorers and illustration, other naturalists were creating physical libraries which were made of local and exotic flora. Carl Schildbach, and Benedictine monk, Candid Huber, were two such individuals who archiving the blossoms, leaves, fruit and bark of plants in their area. The life cycle of regional greenery was physically encapsulated in each volume. Linnean classification information, Latin name and common names were written or printed and attached to the hinged books created from the specimen. The texture and colors of the preserved collections are informative and sensually attractive. The objects within the covers are arranged randomly but have a visual harmony to them as they they interact with parts of themself that they never see in their life cycle. Preservation of these ephemeral objects is a lovely notion.
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