Historical Bookbinding

Instructor: Adam Larsson
Time: 2010
Location: Myller Produktion, Malmö
Languages: In Swedish with support in English
Participants: 15
Materials: Additional costs for pre-produced wooden boards. For more information about materials contact helene@bokbindarkompetens.se
Price: TBD

The Byzant, Armenian and Carolingian techniques evolved from the Coptic tradition. The Byzant technique was first developed in the 5th. and 6th. centuries and was still in use in the 18th. and 19th. centuries. The Armenian practice emerged during the 7th. and 8th. centuries, while the Carolingian method had its glory during the 9th. and 10th. centuries. In Egypt, techniques emerged into two paths: the first, towards the Byzant and Armenian traditions in West Asia and the second, towards Rome in Europe.

The common element that links the Byzant and the Armenian techniques is the lack of cords. As in the Coptic technique, books are sewn with a chain stitch and threads are fixed directly onto the wooden cardboard. However, in observing that Carolingian books have cords, one can clearly see the progression into modern bookbindery from the variations in techniques from these historical periods.

Besides the sole pleasure in understanding the historical perspective of these techniques, this knowledge is a solid base from which to develop one’s own individual creative direction. The technique of sewing is by no means easy, however it does enhance the qualities of an artisan handicraft, since cardboards are not glued, books have no squares and one can manage without a cardboard cutter and pages can be hand cut along the cardboard edges.

Welcome to an exciting summer workshop on Historical bookbinding techniques!

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