Module 5 – (Spring semester) Feb. 10 - March 7, 2025

Bookbinding Structures (16th – 17th Century) - Structure, Damage, and Restoration Treatments I

Module 5

Workshop, 100 hours

Structure of Bookbindings - Dismantling and Restoring Bookbindings

Instructor:

1) Bookbinding types

  • Variations of bookbinding types

2) Make facsimiles

  • Full leather (flat spine)

  • Parchment binding  (limp parchment, semi-limp, stiff)

3) General approaches to a bookbinding restoration

  • Dismantling books

  • Partial dismantling

  • Restoration without dismantling

  • Materials and adhesives used

4) Restoration of the bookbindings

  • Restoration of cardboard (detached boards)

  • Restoration of the sewing – cut supports (double supports, alum-tawed leather, vegetal cords)

  • Restoration of the end bands

  • Restoration of the cover spine: flat spine, raised bands

  • Restoration of the cover material: leather, parchment   

Student Restoration Project

  • Start dismantling bindings

  • Unstitch signature block

  • Start paper restoration

Module 5

Theory class 1, 24 hours

Bookbinding Structures (16th & 17th Century)

Instructor:

Bookbinding types (16th & 17th centuries)

  • Variations

Structural characteristics of the 16th – 17th centuries, leather bindings

  • End leaves

  • Sewing of the quires

  • Wood board

  • Card boards

  • Board attachments

  • Spine lining

  • End bands

  • Covering materials

  • Edges decoration

  • Cover decoration

Module 5

Theory class 2, 24 hours

Bookbindings (16th and 17th Century) – Materials, Deterioration Factors, Approach to Restoration

Instructor:

1) Materials used in traditional bindings. raw materials, chemistry, features, and conservation issues

  • Animal skins - leather, parchment

  • Wood

  • Cardboard

  • Vegetal fibers (linen, hemp, cotton, silk

  • Decorated paper

  • Adhesives (gelatins, flour glue, etc.)

  • Strings

  • Straps

  • Metals

  • Pigments and gilding

2) Deterioration Factors

3) Approach to restoring bookbindings of 16th – 17th centuries

  • Archaeology of bookbindings and restoration

  • Dismantling bookbindings

  • Partial dismantling

  • Restoration without dismantling

  • Replacing original binding

  • Partial replacement of original binding

3) Restoration materials

 Features, uses, issues