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Diane de Bournazel Collection

 Collection — Box: CLX-A-1727
Identifier: Coll-2046

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of ten manuscript books and one framed illustration created by Diane de Bournazel from 2015 to 2023. These handmade and unique books are filled with intricate densely-packed detail, which draw the eye and the mind into a dream-like world, in which she explores themes that include the natural world, childhood, and human relationships. Each work expresses a sweep of emotions while being imbued with a sense of the inner life. Bournazel uses drawing, painting, paper cutting, and collage. Her imagery is her own, but echoes may tradition - from medieval manuscript to modernism, with traditional engraving, etched illustrations, and folk art too.

Title list

  1. "Adieu Vat" (2016).
  2. "Que tout ceci reste entre nous" (2019).
  3. "En Temps voulu" (2019).
  4. "Fin de Partie" (2021).
  5. "À bas Bruit" (Marliac, 2022) "J’ai fait ce livre à Marliac, pendant l’automne et l’hiver 2021. C’est un livre unique’" ("I made this book in Marliac, during autumn and winter 2021. It is a unique book.") Bound by Armelle Guégant.
  6. "En bonne Compagnie" (Marliac, 2022) A unique heart-shaped book, entirely in manuscript and watercolour. "Ce livre est unique. Je l’ai réalisé à Marliac au début de l’anné 2022." ("This book is unique. I made it in Marliac at the beginning of 2022.") Bound by Armelle Guégant.
  7. "Du beau Monde" (Marliac, 2018) A miniature book, unique, illustrated in ink and watercolour. "Ce tout petit livre est unique. Je l’ai peint et relié à ma façon et à Marliac, en fin d’hiver 2018." ("This very small book is unique. I painted it and bound it my own way in Marliac, at the end of winter 2018.")
  8. "Saturnales" (framed illustration, 2015). A celebration of the Feast of Fools, in a series of panels inhabited by De Bournazel’s mythological figures engaged in a series of mysterious rites.
  9. "Point Nommé" (2022). Colophon on back pastedown: "J’ai fait ce livre unique à Marliac, en 2022" ("I made this unique book at Marliac in 2022").
  10. "Le Cœur en Abîme" (Marliac, 2023). Colophon on last page: "Ce livre est unique. Je l'ai fait à Marliac pendant l'hiver 2023. Armelle Guégant l'a relié pour finir" ("This book is unique. I made it in Marliac in winter 2023. Armelle Guégant bound it to finish it").
  11. "Rebis" (Marliac, Paris, 2025). Text by contemporary French poet Laurent Albarracin. Colophon: "L’hiver 2024 Laurent Albarracin m’a proposé deux textes, à partir desquels j’ai conçu et réalisé ce livre unique. Armelle Guégant l’a relié avec raffinement" ("In the winter of 2024, Laurent Albarracin offered me two texts, from which I conceived and created this unique book. Armelle Guégant bound it with exquisite taste.") The two phrases build successively on opposing pages as the pages are turned and triangular apertures open within the copious symbolic borders. Building successively in words of one to seven letters over seven lines, they ultimately read: "L’or vif aura percé maints secrets". "À ce bec leur loque oisive pendule". ("The bright gold will have pierced many secrets". "From this beak their idle rags hang").

Dates

  • Creation: 2015-2025

Creator

Language of Materials

French

Conditions Governing Access

Open. Please contact the repository in advance.

Full Extent

10 Volumes

Full Extent

1 item : framed painting ; 54 x 71 cm

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

First tranche purchased in 2021. Accession no. SC-Acc-2021-0086.

Second tranche purchased in 2022. Accession no. SC-Acc-2022-0087.

Third tranche purchased in June 2024. Accession no. SC-Acc-2025-0021.

Fourth tranche (list item no. 11) purchased in May 2025. Accession no. SC-Acc-2025-0068.

Accruals

Accruals likely.

Processing Information

First tranche catalogued in June 2022 by Aline Brodin, using a description by Elizabeth Quarmby Lawrence.

Second tranche catalogued in January 2023 by Aline Brodin, using information supplied by the seller.

Third tranche catalogued in March 2025 by Aline Brodin.

Fourth tranche catalogued in December 2025 by Aline Brodin, using information supplied by the seller.

Subjects

Genre / Form

Occupation

Topical

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Diane de Bournazel Collection, 2015-2025
Author
Aline Brodin
Date
June 2022, January 2023, March 2025, December 2025
Description rules
Isad(g)2
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

https://library.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379