We are all familiar with the beautiful pieces belonging to the artistic tradition known as “Indo-Portuguese” (or “Luso-Indian”, if preferred), a hybrid tradition that produced both exquisite artworks and utilitarian objects. However, very few examples of Christian Indian bookbinding are known.
The Dicionário Português–Malayalam manuscript (“Lingoa vulgar e Lingoa alta”), compiled by the German priest Johann Ernst Hanxleden (1681–1732) — known in Portuguese as João Ernesto — is remarkable not only for its content but also for its exceptionally rare signed and dated binding:
“Bound at the Ambalacata Seminary by Vdupta Cattanar of Pottencherã. Year 1732.”