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Heavy, old books always seem like a mysterious and infinite well of wisdom and imagination for me. That moment, when you pick up a vintage book from a shelf and wipe away a thick layer of dust from its cover, is full of magic. However, the book is so much more than pages full of words it is also a true paper artwork.

I've always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life and turn them into unique artworks. Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries, and encyclopedias into beautiful sculptures.

I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so I invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well. Don‘t forget to vote for your favorites too.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Book Of Life

Book Of Life

David Kracov Report

Final score:
176points
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#2

Cave In A Book

Cave In A Book

Guy Laramee Report

Final score:
151points
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#3

"Charon And The Door To A World Of Dreams" Book Sculpture

"Charon And The Door To A World Of Dreams" Book Sculpture

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Final score:
143points
Malena Valcarcel
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#4

Mountain Carved Out Of An Old Star Map

Mountain Carved Out Of An Old Star Map

Guy Laramee Report

Final score:
125points
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#5

Carved Book Landscapes

Carved Book Landscapes

Guy Laramee Report

Final score:
120points
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#6

Old Books Carved With Surgical Tools

Old Books Carved With Surgical Tools

Brian Dettmer Report

Final score:
118points
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#7

House In A Field Book Art

House In A Field Book Art

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Final score:
118points
Malena Valcarcel
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#8

Herb Garden Book Sculpture

Herb Garden Book Sculpture

Su Blackwell Report

Final score:
118points
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#9

The Little Match Girl - Handmade Book Sculpture By Karine Diot

The Little Match Girl - Handmade Book Sculpture By Karine Diot

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Final score:
113points
Karine Diot
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#10

Alice In Wonderland By Susan Hoerth

Alice In Wonderland By Susan Hoerth

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Final score:
112points
Susan Hoerth
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#11

Dutch Bookweek Written Portraits

Dutch Bookweek Written Portraits

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Final score:
111points
maarten
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#12

"Great Comfort" Book Arts

"Great Comfort" Book Arts

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Final score:
97points
Malena Valcarcel
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#13

Massive Book Sculpture Of An Abandoned City

Massive Book Sculpture Of An Abandoned City

Liu Wei Report

Final score:
96points
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#14

Skull Book Sculpture

Skull Book Sculpture

Maskull Lasserre Report

Final score:
94points
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#15

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Jodi Harvey-Brown Report

Final score:
91points
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ellenoneill avatar
EllenO'Neill
EllenO'Neill
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lovely. A side note: Lewis Carroll never refers to The Mad Hatter, only The Hatter. The chapter is 'A Mad Tea-Party' & the 2 ideas elided.

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#16

Jacqueline Rush Lee's Inked Books (Anthologia)

Jacqueline Rush Lee's Inked Books (Anthologia)

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Final score:
83points
By Deleted User
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#17

Mayberry's Insects

Mayberry's Insects

Kelly Campbell Report

Final score:
83points
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#18

Old Books Turned Into An Interesting Piece Of Art

Old Books Turned Into An Interesting Piece Of Art

Brian Dettmer Report

Final score:
81points
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#19

Hot Air Balloon Book Sculpture

Hot Air Balloon Book Sculpture

Jodi Harvey-Brown Report

Final score:
74points
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RebeccaLescarbeau
RebeccaLescarbeau
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I AM BLOWN AWAY by this art work and the people who too time to do this, they truly deserve awards, amazing & so beautiful, incredible job.

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#20

Jacqueline Rush Lee's Inked Series (Nous: There's No Why Here),Transformed Philosophy Book 2014

Jacqueline Rush Lee's Inked Series (Nous: There's No Why Here),Transformed Philosophy Book 2014

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Final score:
72points
By Deleted User
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mariannaarmata
mariannaarmata
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this so much! incredible idea and fantastic results. Bravo Jacqueline.

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#21

Books Installation In The Municipal Library Of Prague By Matej Krén

Books Installation In The Municipal Library Of Prague By Matej Krén

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Final score:
71points
Pretty Petty
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#22

Pablo Lehmann - "Thesaurus" (21 X 15 X 19 Cm.) Cut-Out Paper 2011

Pablo Lehmann - "Thesaurus" (21 X 15 X 19 Cm.) Cut-Out Paper 2011

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Final score:
62points
Pablo Lehmann
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#23

Meyers 19, 1906

Meyers 19, 1906

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Final score:
36points
korzerrobinson
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#24

Nouveau Larousse Illustre 5, 1907

Nouveau Larousse Illustre 5, 1907

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Final score:
32points
korzerrobinson
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#25

The Little Mermaid - Book Sculpture By Karine Diot

The Little Mermaid - Book Sculpture By Karine Diot

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Final score:
31points
Karine Diot
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#26

The Paper House - Handmade Book Sculpture By Karine Diot

The Paper House - Handmade Book Sculpture By Karine Diot

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Final score:
31points
Karine Diot
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#27

Winter Fairytale Book Sculpture

Winter Fairytale Book Sculpture

Su Blackwell Report

Final score:
28points
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#28

Pablo Lehmann's "Naked Book" (26 X 15 X 6 cm) Cut-Out Paper 2007

Pablo Lehmann's "Naked Book" (26 X 15 X 6 cm) Cut-Out Paper 2007

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Final score:
27points
Pablo Lehmann
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#29

Meyers 12, 1928 + Meyers 10, 1928

Meyers 12, 1928 + Meyers 10, 1928

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Final score:
25points
korzerrobinson
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#30

Pride And Prejudice By Susan Hoerth Alter Book

Pride And Prejudice By Susan Hoerth Alter Book

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Final score:
24points
Susan Hoerth
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#31

The Boy's Own Annual 1894

The Boy's Own Annual 1894

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Final score:
23points
korzerrobinson
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#32

37 Butterflies In Their Prime By Valerie Savarie

37 Butterflies In Their Prime By Valerie Savarie

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Final score:
21points
Valerie Savarie
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#33

Mount Rushmore Made From Old Phone Books

Mount Rushmore Made From Old Phone Books

Long Bin Chen Report

Final score:
21points
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#34

The Boy's Own Annual 1896

The Boy's Own Annual 1896

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Final score:
20points
korzerrobinson
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#35

The Little Prince Book Sculpture

The Little Prince Book Sculpture

Su Blackwell Report

Final score:
20points
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#36

For My Beloved - By Andrew Aulenback

For My Beloved - By Andrew Aulenback

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Final score:
20points
Wanda Aulenback
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#37

Traveling On The Lake Book Sculpture

Traveling On The Lake Book Sculpture

Harvey Brown Report

Final score:
19points
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#38

Book Portraits By Nicholas Galanin

Book Portraits By Nicholas Galanin

Nicholas Galanin Report

Final score:
18points
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#39

In A Dream I Dreamt I Was Ligeia By Valerie Savarie

In A Dream I Dreamt I Was Ligeia By Valerie Savarie

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Final score:
17points
Valerie Savarie
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DaneStephenson
DaneStephenson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Valerie's work is amazing. She has a flare for the dramatic, but in a novel way. Her methods are quite technical, yet very creative.

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#40

A Stairway To Heaven Book Sculpture

A Stairway To Heaven Book Sculpture

Rose Ann Mary K Report

Final score:
17points
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#41

Will You Marry Me

Will You Marry Me

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Final score:
17points
Viralpx
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#42

Slashed Book Scupture

Slashed Book Scupture

Georgia Russell Report

Final score:
15points
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#43

Squall In The Sea Of Galilee

Squall In The Sea Of Galilee

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Final score:
12points
sven lim
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#44

James Allen - "skulduggery" - 2012 - Jamesallenstudio.com

James Allen - "skulduggery" - 2012 - Jamesallenstudio.com

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Final score:
11points
James Allen
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#45

Omar ~by Elizabeth Criss, 2004~ Residing At Los Angeles Public Library, Valley Plaza Branch

Omar ~by Elizabeth Criss, 2004~ Residing At Los Angeles Public Library, Valley Plaza Branch

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Final score:
9points
Elizabeth Criss
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#46

Anagram Books Octopus

Anagram Books Octopus

photos1.blogger.com Report

Final score:
8points
Deb Sarlin
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#47

Ellie And Zaira Book Folding Created By Marlene Marques

Ellie And Zaira Book Folding Created By Marlene Marques

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Final score:
7points
anovelidea21
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#48

Listen To This

Listen To This

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Final score:
7points
sven lim
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#49

Weeds - By Isobelle Ouzman

Weeds - By Isobelle Ouzman

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Final score:
7points
Isobelle Ouzman
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#50

Booklife

Booklife

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Final score:
6points
Winnie De Keizer
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#51

Paradise

Paradise

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Final score:
6points
sven lim
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#52

Not Sure Where This Come From -- But I Love It

Not Sure Where This Come From -- But I Love It

wishIknew! Report

Final score:
6points
Deb Sarlin
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#53

Mrs. Durham Book Carving By Megan Shelton

Mrs. Durham Book Carving By Megan Shelton

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Final score:
5points
Megan Kay
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#54

Place Of Worship

Place Of Worship

chanellecollier.wordpress.com Report

Final score:
4points
wilsonart
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#55

Man In A Tree

Man In A Tree

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Final score:
4points
sven lim
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#56

Larousse 2013 By Pancho Francisco

Larousse 2013 By Pancho Francisco

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Final score:
4points
Migs
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#57

Book Cuff - Rare Notions By Phiona Richards

Book Cuff - Rare Notions By Phiona Richards

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Final score:
4points
Rare Notions
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#58

Untitled, Kenji Nakama, 7 Encyclopedias, 50x30x50 Cms, 2011

Untitled, Kenji Nakama, 7 Encyclopedias, 50x30x50 Cms, 2011

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Final score:
4points
kenji nakama
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Tamera Gumkowski
Tamera Gumkowski
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very interesting , movement and architectural feel , simple but so intricate !

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#59

Lovers Made Out Of War And Peace. Allison Glasgow Fakepapertrees

Lovers Made Out Of War And Peace. Allison Glasgow Fakepapertrees

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Final score:
4points
AllisonGlasgow
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#60

Jacqueline Rush Lee "Endoskeleton" (Fired Book)

Jacqueline Rush Lee "Endoskeleton" (Fired Book)

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Final score:
3points
By Deleted User
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Karen Turner
Karen Turner
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heat creates interesting images.I love to watch how paper curls as heat approaches it before it is engulfed in flame....

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#61

Artwork Done By Me With Some Hard Cover Books. London < Ont

Artwork Done By Me With Some Hard Cover Books. London < Ont

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Final score:
3points
Kaylyn Penstone
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#62

Moby-dick By Ariel Gonzalez

Moby-dick By Ariel Gonzalez

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Final score:
3points
Ariel Gon
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#63

Untitled By Kenji Nakama 2011

Untitled By Kenji Nakama 2011

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Final score:
3points
kenji nakama
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#64

Self Portrait: Part One

Self Portrait: Part One

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Final score:
2points
Susan Sironi
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#65

Untitled By Kenji Nakama 2011

Untitled By Kenji Nakama 2011

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Final score:
2points
kenji nakama
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#66

Pearls Of Wisdom - Rare Notions By Phiona Richards - Rarenotions.co.uk

Pearls Of Wisdom - Rare Notions By Phiona Richards - Rarenotions.co.uk

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Final score:
2points
Rare Notions
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#67

Ar-15 Made From Childrens Books ©rossa Cole, 2014

Ar-15 Made From Childrens Books ©rossa Cole, 2014

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Final score:
1point
Rossa Cole
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#68

Mondriaan And Psyche

Mondriaan And Psyche

chanellecollier.wordpress.com Report

Final score:
1point
wilsonart
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#69

Something About Cake

Something About Cake

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Final score:
1point
Susan Sironi
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#70

Nevermore - Alex Queral

Nevermore - Alex Queral

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Final score:
1point
Alex Queral
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#71

The Acient Highway By Deborah Foutch

The Acient Highway By Deborah Foutch

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Final score:
1point
Deborah Foutch
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#72

The Canyon Flowers

The Canyon Flowers

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Final score:
0points
Jose Torro
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#73

Bibliotheken Bauen

Bibliotheken Bauen

chanellecollier.wordpress.com Report

Final score:
0points
wilsonart
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#74

Butterfly Flag

Butterfly Flag

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Final score:
0points
jfuchsmusgrave
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#75

Book Of Clay

Book Of Clay

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Final score:
0points
David Brito
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#76

John Sager "hagia Sophia" (36" X 19" X 10") -- Altered Book With Books, Cast Iron Barndoor Trol

John Sager "hagia Sophia" (36" X 19" X 10") -- Altered Book With Books, Cast Iron Barndoor Trol

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Final score:
0points
jonisager
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#77

Altered Book Sculpture By Mademeathens Based On "great Expectations"

Altered Book Sculpture By Mademeathens Based On "great Expectations"

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Final score:
0points
mademeathens
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#78

nurture Ii Compressed Annual Reports, 2m High, Cultured Fungi

nurture Ii Compressed Annual Reports, 2m High, Cultured Fungi

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Final score:
0points
GrahamH
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