Minimalist, Rounded and Backed, Tight Back, Remboîtage Binding

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Songs and Poems by Dryden is beginning to take shape and as I wait for things to dry I busy myself with other things...

Now, my dear chum, it may come as something as a bit of a surprise to learn that I have a number of interests that are out of the book binding/book art umbrella. One is archaeology/history, an other is architecture and yet another is making the most of what is available. Bliss, for me at least is when my interests collide... perhaps...come together would be a better description.

So, yesterday evening found me sewing up a text block and doing stuff. Today finding time to finish ............

.........a minimalist, rounded and backed, tight back, remboîtage binding. I realise there is nothing particularly new in all these things........

I love it. The archaeology/history bit; well the boards, from about 1850ish, I think that counts as history. But there is more. The boards have had to have been treated with a number of ointments and stuff to stabilise the calf in preparation for re-use. So there is a little bit of restoration/conservation stuff happening. The structure is simple but one has to know how to do it. You know all those little things like understanding paper, what thread to use to achieve the correct swell, rounding and backing etc etc etc. Then there is leather paring, I could go on. I realise that to all of the experts out there it is simple, and I see you yawning at the back of the room, stuff. However, as an introduction to aspects of book binding, restoration/conservation etc... I feel it ticks a number of boxes. I feel a workshop coming on!

Please note, for those of you with sharp eyes and a keen set of fingers ready to scorn... I know the book does not look square, 10 out of 10 - it is not square. There is not one right angle on either board. Again, yes there are lumps on the spine. Well done... it is the sewing, if I may refer you back to what could be thought of as the name of the book......'a minimalist, rounded and backed, tight back, remboîtage binding'. A key word is minimalist, very little in the way of spine linings, nothing is hidden. And, may draw your attention to the Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou. A building in Paris, designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini. The building, and others of its' ilk are known for having elements of the structure, services etc very much on view. As for making the most of what is available, well I guess that would be time and materials in this case.

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.