Medieval Cut-away with Karen Hanmer (Online)

Schedule: Dec 5, 2020; Dec 6, 2020; Dec 12, 2020; Dec 13, 2020; 
9am - 12pm (PT); 10am - 1pm (MT); 11am - 2pm (CT); 12pm - 3pm (ET); 

The Medieval binding may be the archetypal book: heavy wooden boards, partially or fully covered in leather, prominent bands on the spine, held shut by straps terminating in metal clasps. Though the materials differ, the construction of these bindings is surprisingly similar to how a fine leather binding is made today. Paper has replaced parchment for the text block; thick, dense paper has replaced wood for the boards; and the sewing is now often done on flat supports to present a smooth spine. The sewing supports are still laced into the boards, the boards still nest into the shoulder but with a different profile, spine linings still provide support though they now stop at the edges of the spine rather than extending onto the boards to function as levers to aid in opening. Carefully formed corners are now designed to be invisible rather than merely protect, endbands are now decorative only instead of structural elements that lace into the boards. Clasps are no longer necessary to hold the book closed.

In this four-session online workshop, students will construct a small (roughly 5x3x2") model highlighting aspects typical of a Medieval binding: text block sewn on double supports; wooden boards shaped all around, with special attention given to the inside spine edge to match the text block’s shoulder, then drawn on and pegged; sewn endbands; partially covered in alum-tawed leather leaving the engineering visible. The final session will end with a demonstration of blind tooling.

This workshop requires a sewing frame, finishing press, dremel or drill, plane or rasp, and a 1/4" or 6 mm chisel.

Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. Students should be making sewn books independently, outside a workshop setting.

Prerequisites: Binding Fundamentals or equivalent. Binding Fundamentals is being offered concurrently.

Location/Venue:  Online with Karen Hanmer
For more info & pictures: http://www.karenhanmer.com/teaching/#MedievalCutaway
Cost/Fee:  $450
Material/Studio fee:  Register here - https://tinyurl.com/y2h2oqq7

Their workshop calendar:  http://www.karenhanmer.com/teaching/

Instructor and bio:  About Karen Hanmer