Montefiascone 2018

Montefiascone is a small medieval walled city about 100 k (80 miles) north of Rome, on Lake Bolsena. Since 1988, conservators and others interested in books and their history have come together to work, to learn and to enjoy this special place.  Participants come to enjoy the medieval architecture, friendly people, a clean accessible lake, books and scholarship.  The Montefiascone Project is a non-profit making organisation, set up to fund the restoration of the Library of the Seminario Barbarigo in Montefiascone.

23rd -27th July: Re-creating the Medieval Palette

Course tutor: Cheryl Porter

This class will study the colours (made from rocks, minerals, metals, insects and plants) that were processed to produce the colours used by artists throughout the medieval era.  The focus will mostly (though not exclusively) be on manuscript art -Islamic and European- and participants will re-create the colours using original recipes.  Illustrated lectures will address the history, geography, chemistry, iconography and conservation issues.  Practical making and painting sessions will follow these lectures. No previous experience is necessary.

© the Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

30th July- 3rd August: An Indo-Persian binding

Course Tutors: Kristine Rose Beers and Julia Poirier, with Alison Ohta lecturing.

In this class, participants will make a model of an Indo-Persian Qur’an binding structure dated to c.1600. Based largely on CBL Is 1550, the model will also draw on a number of other contemporary Indian and Persian manuscripts from the Chester Beatty Library collection. These bindings will offer a starting point for discussion around the diversity of Indian Islamic bookbinding, whilst exemplifying a number of distinct characteristics, which will be incorporated in our model. These will include an extended foredge piece, which allows the envelope flap to rest above the upper board, and leather sewing supports. The multifaceted nature of bookbinding at this time speaks of the complex geopolitical nature of the Indian subcontinent in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the inevitable exchange and movement of manuscripts and artisans between kingdoms and dynasties.  Whilst the true diversity of historic binding styles in India is not yet fully understood, it is hoped that this course will provide an opportunity to explore some of their variety and unique characteristics across the Indian subcontinent.

The Bury Bible
© the Master and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. 

6th -10th August: A study of sewing techniques in Romanesque book production.

Course tutors: Jim Bloxam and Shaun Thompson 

This course will concentrate on Romanesque sewing techniques, with particular reference to Peterhouse Ms 13, Gregory’s Magna Moralia. The sewn elements of Peterhouse Ms 13 include: the text-block and endband sewing; the construction and attachment of the chemise; the sewn attachment of an edging-strip and a number of sewn repairs to the chemise. The tutors will describe and demonstrate the variety of sewing techniques outlined above. The course participants will be guided in the creation of their own model Romanesque binding, which will enable them to understand how the sewn elements combine and interact. Processes will include sewing the text-block, sewing the endbands, lacing on the boards, primary covering with alum-tawed skin and the making of a chemise. Complementing the practical aspect of the course, the tutors will seek to set the binding into context.  The tutors will also consider other Romanesque bindings in Cambridge libraries as well as those in significant collections in the UK and abroad.

https://boekenoverboeken.com/  

13th -17th August: Dirck de Bray and Beyond

Course Tutors: Anne Hillam and Maria Fredericks

As bookbinders and conservators, we immediately associate the term stiff-board binding with a specific structure, from either Dutch or Italian imprints.  However, within these binding styles, stiff-board parchment bindings can include multiple distinct structural variations dependent on geographical region, workshop, available materials, economics, and individual binder. As the overarching theme, we will examine the genre of stiff-board bindings, emphasizing the value of comparative study of the variants.

This workshop begins by focusing on reconstructing two parchment covered laced-case bindings with stiff boards as detailed in Dirck de Bray’s 1658 manual, A Short Instruction in the Binding of Books. The 2012 translation describes the manuscript as the “earliest known original Dutch description of the process of binding books and the tools used for it.”  This structure was common in Holland from the 17th – 18th century and is described as a spitselband or spitsel binding, in reference to the trimmed and pointed bands, or spitsels, that are laced through the cover. Two covering styles, as described by de Bray, will be discussed and constructed.  Based on class discussion and an examination of numerous structures, a third binding of your choice will be constructed to illustrate the many variations of binding styles within this genre. Some knowledge and experience in bookbinding is preferred.  All materials needed to construct the models will be provided at cost.  Participants will need to bring basic bookbinding tools.

For more details, and to see biographies of the tutors visit www.monteproject.com

Costs: 550 euros per week (or the UK £ sterling equivalent) for all tuition (which is in English)

Scholarship: The Nicholas Hadgraft Montefiascone Scholarship is awarded each year by Conservation-by-Design. The successful applicant will be offered £1500 (UKP) towards tuition and accommodation for the Montefiascone course(s). For further information see Conservation-by Design website: http://www.conservation-by-design.com/home.aspx?pagename=scholarships

For further information and to enrol, contact Cheryl Porter: chezzaporter@yahoo.com