February 2014 Gian Frontini

Transcription

1 Fasteners give a book importance and a feeling of privacy as well as improving the look of the binding Bring your own bindings to add hardware or we will provide you with a beautiful full leather book to finish This is a week end class and we will concentrate on 16 th and 17 th century style closures which incorporate a leather strap, a latch and a pin. We will use silver, bone, horn or wood as raw materials to interpret your personal design You will be amazed at the results!!! February 2014 Gian Frontini 1

2 How to finish a leather-bound book with fine silver, bone and wood fastenings February 2014 Gian Frontini 2

3 Early medieval books were written on parchment and required fasteners to keep the text block under compression With the introduction of paper in the 13 th century fasteners became less bulky and gradually were reduced to simple thongs or cord lacing By the end of the 15 th century heavy metal clasps were replaced by straps and latches like the sterling fasteners on the Mattioli folio In the 18 th century the flexible binding structure had become so refined, that functional fasteners were no longer required with the exception of vellum bindings The Victorian revival of neo-gothic style made fasteners a fashion item: you will find them on photo albums, bibles and diaries. The majority of these are machine-made reproductions of questionable taste. Very fine work is presently done by book artists, who interpret the book closure as part of the book design February 2014 Gian Frontini 3

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10 Latch is made from the end of a sterling silver fork and the pin from the stem February 2014 Gian Frontini 10

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14 heel of fork will make a great latch tines make rivets and nails pins made from the stem February 2014 Gian Frontini 14

15 Bone polishes beautifully and has a soft feel ideal for old books February 2014 Gian Frontini 15

16 Straps must be laminated with a layer of raw hide and one of leather matching the binding. Sewing and decorative stitches enhance the appearance and durability February 2014 Gian Frontini 16

17 Measure carefully Make two tiny pilot holes at the edge of each slot Cut the leather between the holes closest to the fore edge of the book Cut through the board with a knife, or if you are bold enough with a chisel ( this is the traditional way) Cut the straps to a point and feed then through the board Move the strap over to locate the pin. Drill a pilot hole and drive the pin in with a hammer Adjust the strap taut and glue it in a recess in the back of the cover. Glue and smooth the leather around the slots in the upper cover February 2014 Gian Frontini 17

18 1. The book must be fully bound with the exception of the end-papers, which should not be pasted down 2. Straps are made by laminating the leather of the cover to raw hide. This is important as the strap must not stretch. 3. The latch is cut with a jeweller saw or with a Dremel tool (wear eye protection and nose mask), the material can be brass, silver, bone, horn or wood 4. The latch is finished with files, fine sanding and polishing 5. The pins are fashioned out of metal and finished the same way February 2014 Gian Frontini 18

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20 Two elegant designs by Tom Patterson evoking 14 th century fastenings in a modern interpretation (hardened brass) February 2014 Gian Frontini 20

21 The design is first done on paper and then scribed onto the metal February 2014 Gian Frontini 21

22 Simple tools...skilful hands February 2014 Gian Frontini 22

23 20 gauge brass is cut with tin-snips, heavier gauges are sawn February 2014 Gian Frontini 23

24 Carefully filing the ears of both latch and catch February 2014 Gian Frontini 24

25 Rounded-edge anvil To shape the hinge the ears are first bend around a rounded anvil February 2014 Gian Frontini 25

26 Two parts of the hinge ready for assembly February 2014 Gian Frontini 26

27 The ears are bent around a pin slightly larger than the hinge-pin February 2014 Gian Frontini 27

28 Filing a taper on the rounded ears February 2014 Gian Frontini 28

29 Adjusting for fit February 2014 Gian Frontini 29

30 Forming the hinge on the pin February 2014 Gian Frontini 30

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32 Finished hinges with catches February 2014 Gian Frontini 32

33 Don't be fooled by the simple look: a wire clasp is much more difficult to fit to a book than a strap Medieval books often incorporated leather elements in the clasps for ease of adjustment February 2014 Gian Frontini 33

34 Testing on the book February 2014 Gian Frontini 34

35 Riveting the clasp to the book February 2014 Gian Frontini 35

36 Looking good! February 2014 Gian Frontini 36

37 The book is almost finished but this last operation is functionally very critical To ensure easy opening of flexible binding the end papers must be glued to the boards in a 60 degrees position and brought back to full opening as shown in the next picture PVA is preferable for this operation rather than paste Allow to dry for three hr before closing the book February 2014 Gian Frontini 37

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