Making of
Masterpieces in the Making
A Glimpse into the Heart of Our Workshops
Choosing a D’ORO Collection book means choosing a work of prestige—entirely handmade in Italy using the finest techniques of artisanal bookbinding. Each volume is created for its collector. This intimate bond calls for time, care, and age-old gestures passed down through generations. Waiting becomes part of the value itself—a mark of craftsmanship and singularity.
The creation of a D’ORO Collection book is an act of metamorphosis. Words become matter; thought takes on form and dimension. Paper, thread, ink, leather and metal come together in a process that turns knowledge into a crafted work of art. It is a journey shaped by skilled hands and noble materials—by art and craftsmanship—culminating in an unrepeatable masterpiece.
And this is how the book comes to be.
From Fibre to Form
When Paper Becomes Page
The pages of D’ORO Collection books are made of fine handcrafted cotton paper, individually printed using carefully calibrated pigments that enhance depth and visual intensity. In the age-old gesture of artisanal bookbinding, each sheet is folded along the grain using a traditional bone folder. Gathered into signatures, the pages are then aligned on a wooden frame, where strong threads guide the stitching by hand.
With waxed cotton thread, the bookbinder sews each signature with precision. The result is a book that opens naturally and retains its structure over time. Once stitched, the spine is compressed, glued, and trimmed—shaping the final profile of the volume. Using a rasp, the artisan gently works the paper’s edge, creating a subtle, tactile irregularity. This uneven finish carries the unmistakable imprint of the maker’s hand.
The Anatomy of Strength
Crafting the Spine
The spine -the true backbone of the book- is shaped with a hammer until its curve reaches perfect balance. At the head and tail, endbands are inserted: small elements made of leather and cord.
The surface is then reinforced with cloth and covered in vegetable-tanned leather, carefully selected and processed in Italy. Cut and pared with precision, the leather is finished with raised bands and gilded details, enhancing the book’s structure and timeless beauty.
The Shield of Memory
Our Iconic Covers
The cover is the boundary and the armour of the book—its protective shell. D’ORO Collection volumes are revealed behind golden sculptures, artistic expressions of the story within.
The process begins with a clay sculpture. A form that evolves through material: from clay to wax, from plaster to molten bronze. These essential steps lead to the creation of the master sculpture using the ancient lost-wax technique. Once cast, it is meticulously refined by hand with goldsmith’s tools, ensuring perfection in every detail.
From this masterwork, copper bas-reliefs are shaped to form the covers. Using the repoussé technique—overlaying bronze with a thin copper sheet—artisans hammer the surface over two thousand times to sculpt the image. The copper is then polished and prepared for the 24-karat gold gilding, applied entirely by hand.
The finished surface radiates a deep glow: like in medieval manuscripts, gold envelops and protects the volume, resisting oxidation and preserving the integrity of the work over time. The grand tradition of the book lives on in the iconic covers of D’ORO Collection—true three-dimensional artworks and shields of memory.
Iconotexts
Original Paintings
Within each volume, painting comes to life as an independent form. Original oil artworks by contemporary artists are reproduced in numbered editions and incorporated into the pages.
On linen canvas, oil pigments are applied in translucent layers. The slow oxidation of the oil allows for depth, nuance, and overlapping tones—creating an intensity that enhances each form, even when transferred to paper.
The Golden Seal
Gilding
As in the Codices Aurei, initials are hand-painted with natural pigments and enriched with gold leaf on paper, applied using egg white according to the tradition of medieval illumination.
On other surfaces—leather, moiré silk, and paper—gold foil is hot-stamped using an antique gilding press. Heat fuses the gold into the fibres, creating a luminous and enduring effect.
This final gesture, spread throughout the volume, is the unmistakable signature of D’ORO Collection: light, matter, eternity.
Final Act
Once complete, the volume rests for one hundred hours under a manual press—a slow time that sets its final form.
Then, it is released, subjected to meticulous quality checks, and prepared for its collector.