Montefiascone Project

Montefiascone is a medieval walled city situated on a huge lake
between Rome and Siena. Each summer conservators, librarians,
archivists, art historians and others interested in the history and
the structure of the book, meet to participate in classes, which are
held within the city walls. The programme for summer 2004 is as
follows:

The history, chemistry and significance of the pigments used by the
    medieval artist.
Cheryl Porter
July 26-30, 2004

    This course is about understanding all aspects of those colours
    used throughout the medieval period, with particular reference
    to manuscript illumination. Each day will begin with lectures
    and slides to illustrate the history, chemistry, iconographic
    importance and technique of their manufacture and application.
    This will be followed by a hands-on workshop, where we will
    re-create the colours using original recipes. All participants
    will make their own chart of organic and inorganic colours to
    use for later reference, for analysis or simply for decoration.

    The course will be of interest to conservators, calligraphers,
    librarians and others interested in the history and techniques
    of book production and the story of colour.

A practical introduction to Byzantine Binding
John Mumford and Caroline Checkley-Scott
August 2-6, 2004

    This week long course is an introduction to the history of the
    Byzantine binding. Through a series of lectures with slides and
    practical demonstrations it is hoped that the student will gain
    an initial understanding of the construction of a Byzantine
    binding to include sewing, board preparation, endbanding,
    covering and fastenings. The student will then proceed to make
    one themselves. Reference will be made to the conservation of
    historical bindings.  All the necessary materials required for
    making the book will be provided. The student will be required
    to bring along some basic bookbinding equipment to be
    specified).  Some knowledge of the history of bookbinding would
    be desirable but is not essential. This course may be
    interesting to book binders, conservators, design binders and
    those interested in the history of the book.  A pre-course
    reading list will be provided if desired. Maximum class number
    10.

Engineering the Spine: Structural considerations in the control of
    opening characteristics
Maria Fredericks
August 9-13, 2004

    The sewing, lining and materials used in the binding of books
    will determine the nature of any given book?s opening
    characteristics. This course will deal in detail with the
    appropriate construction of book bindings for specific types of
    text-blocks.

    Through the creation of several simple comparative models and
    presentation of case histories (for example, late medieval
    bindings, 18th century stiff board vellum bindings, modern
    Tibetan printed books) this course will highlight binding
    problems and specific treatments, and demonstrate several
    methods available to the conservator for creating the desired
    spine movement in the treated or re-bound book.  Implicit in the
    course content is examination of the decision-making processes
    and the inevitable compromises that much conservation work
    involves.

The Treatment and repair of Gutta-Percha and other single leaved
    books
Anthony Cains
August 16-20, 2004

    From the 19th century, large numbers of important books were
    made using gutta-percha. These books are in libraries and
    private collections throughout the world and present a number of
    problems: the adhesive deteriorates and the calico linings rot
    so that the leaves protrude from the case, plates are misplaced,
    tissues creased. Very often the object is exposed and
    vulnerable. Tony Cains has developed a number of methods for the
    safe repair of these single leaved books. The course will
    explore the problems associated with treating gutta-percha
    bindings and will consider allied issues associated with books
    made without sewing through the fold. Cloth binding repair
    (re-backing, caps and tails, joints etc) will be addressed where
    necessary. The central aim when conserving such books is to
    preserve the text block and the binding in as historically
    authentic manner as possible, whilst simultaneously making a
    repair which is non-damaging and durable.

Instructors:

    Cheryl Porter
    Private Conservator

    John Mumford
    Manager of the Book Conservation Studio
    British Library

    Caroline Checkley
    Conservator
    Wellcome Trust

    Maria Fredericks
    Head of Conservation
    Columbia University Libraries

    Anthony Cains
    Private Conservator.
    Formerly Technical Director of Library Conservation Trinity
        College Dublin

The cost of each course is UKP345 / $595 per week. This includes all
materials and tuition (which is in English). This is a non-profit
making programme and any extra moneys are used to buy materials for
the library, archives and their collections.

Accommodation: Participants may stay in a house within the city
walls, close to the main square at the centre of the town. Bedrooms
are shared (maximum 4 per room) and costs are UKP12 / $18 per person
per night. If preferred, accommodation can be arranged at a local
hotel.

Classes are from 9am to 1 (30) pm. Afternoons can be used for
private study or for finishing work, or helping in the medieval
library? cleaning, cataloguing etc., though many prefer to take
advantage of the spectacular setting to swim in the local clean,
huge, volcanic lake, or to explore the town, with its Romanesque and
late medieval architecture and friendly inhabitants.

For further information contact:

    Cheryl Porter
    8 Ashen Green
    Great Shelford
    Cambridge CB2 5EY
    England
    chezzaporter [at] yahoo__com


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:54
               Distributed: Wednesday, February 18, 2004
                       Message Id: cdl-17-54-019
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