gilt motifs

Evidence

"A fairly number of the manuscripts in our collections are preserved in their original bindings, sometimes richly tooled and decorated with gilt motifs."

Remarks

Decorative gilt motifs are mentioned in the context of original manuscript bindings, which were often richly tooled (p. 344). These elements reflect the aesthetic taste of the original collectors and the high level of craftsmanship in Ottoman bookbinding during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries (p. 344).