Montefiascone Project

Montefiascone Programme Summer 2008

Montefiascone is a medieval walled city situated on Lake Bolsena,
about 100 kilometers north of Rome. For four weeks each summer,
conservators, art historians, librarians, archivists and others
interested in the history of the book, meet to participate in
classes, which are held within the city walls. Courses are for one
week and participants may register for one or more weeks.

Week 1
July 28 - August 1 2008
Re-creating  Mediaeval Colours used in Manuscript Painting

    Participants will study the history, geographical origins,
    chemistry and iconographic significance of the colours used by
    medieval artists, especially those colours used for painting in
    manuscripts. Each colour will be re-created using traditional
    recipes and then painted out using traditional binding
    materials.

    No previous experience is necessary to do the course.
    Course Tutor: Cheryl Porter

Week 2
4-8 August 2008
The Traditional Ottoman Book

    Participants will study the main concepts involved in the making
    of a traditional Ottoman bookbinding. Structures will be
    examined and some attention will be paid to traditional sewing
    and endbanding techniques. Most emphasis will be on the covering
    in leather with filigree decoration and the preparation and
    application of the gold painting.

    Experienced book binders will gain most from this course.
    Course Tutor: Serra Guney

Week 3
11-15 August 2008
The Cambridge Terrier--a fifteenth century chemise binding

    The Cambridge Terrier lists all the arable land in the Cambridge
    West Fields and is now part of the Additional Manuscripts
    collection at Cambridge University Library (England). As befits
    a document which was expected to be carried round and handled a
    good deal, the Cambridge Terrier was given not one, but two
    coverings of alum-tawed skin. The chemise, complimented by a
    striking red strap, extends from the tail of the book and there
    is some evidence to suggest that the extending cover was adapted
    to facilitate attachment to the belt. Participants will make
    their own book based on the Cambridge Terrier. Through a series
    of slides, PowerPoint presentations and practical
    demonstrations, the student will gain an understanding of the
    construction of this striking chemise binding. The binding
    process will include sewing, board preparation, endbanding,
    covering and staining the alum-tawed skin. All materials will be
    provided, though participants will be required to bring some
    basic bookbinding hand tools. Some knowledge of bookbinding is
    essential.

    Course Tutors: Jim Bloxam and Kristine Rose

Week 4
18-22 August 2008
The Romanesque Book in Spain and Northern Europe

    The Romanesque book is considered by many to be the high point
    of book construction. The structure was strong, sturdy and
    flexible, and the quality of craftsmanship and materials were
    superb. Participants will study the construction of the
    Romanesque book and examine in some detail, the differences
    between the Spanish and the Northern European models. Some
    knowledge of bookbinding is essential.

    Course Tutors:

        Cheryl Porter has been Director of the Montefiascone
        Programme since its inception in 1988. She has been a
        freelance conservator working principally on the
        conservation of manuscripts and their inks and pigments. She
        has taught in Australia and New Zealand, the USA and Canada
        as well as in many centres in Europe. Cheryl is currently
        Senior Conservator and Manager of Preservation and
        Conservation, Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation and Dar
        al-Kutub Manuscript Conservation Project in Cairo, Egypt.

        Serra Guney studied bookbinding in the Department of
        Traditional Turkish Art at Mimar Sinan University in
        Istanbul, Turkey. She subsequently studied as a postgraduate
        under Professor Ilhami Turan and Islam Secen, master
        bookbinders in Turkey. She has worked at the Sulemaniye
        Manuscript Library, especially on 15th-18th century
        manuscripts and rare books and has studied Turkish marbling
        with Hikmet Barutcugil. In 2002 she worked in Valetta, Malta
        on 18th century rare books and bindings. Since 2004 Serra
        has worked as a freelance conservator of books and paper in
        her own workshop in Istanbul.

        Jim Bloxam is a senior Book Conservator in the Conservation
        Department at Cambridge University Library, working on a
        wide range of materials including early printed books,
        manuscripts and archives. He has taught in the USA and is
        frequently teaches courses for the Montefiascone Project.
        Jim's particular research interests lie mainly in the
        history of books; their structural qualities and their
        cultural context.

        Kristine Rose is Book Conservator for the Turkish
        Collections at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. She
        studied at Camberwell College of Arts before moving to
        Cambridge University Library Department of Conservation,
        where she worked for five years. Kristine has taught in the
        USA and for the Montefiascone Project. Kristine has worked
        on a wide range of rare book and manuscript material, with a
        particular focus on Near Eastern Book structures.

        Ana Beny graduated from the "Conservatori de les Arts del
        Llibre" of Barcelona.  From1988 to 2005, Ana worked in her
        own workshop in Madrid, where her major duties included the
        co-ordination of staff and the training of interns. During
        those years, she worked for the most important Spanish
        institutions, carrying out conservation work and designing
        workshops, as well as teaching projects in Brazil and the
        Philippines.  She is particularly interested in historic
        bindings and has conserved manuscripts and rare books from a
        number of public and private collections in Spain. She is
        collaborating with the University of Granada in devising and
        teaching courses on Arab manuscript conservation. Ana is
        currently Senior Conservator and Head of Training, Thesaurus
        Islamicus Foundation and Dar al-Kutub Manuscript
        Conservation Project in Cairo, Egypt.

        John Mumford served a five year apprenticeship at the
        British Museum and subsequently helped establish the Rare
        and Early Book Conservation Studio at the British Library.
        In 1992 he was appointed manager of the Oriental and India
        Office Book Conservation Studio, furthering his study of
        early Oriental and Eastern binding structures. In 1998 he
        became manager of the Oriental and Eastern Book Conservation
        Studio at the new British Library at St Pancras. John is
        currently the Head of Book Conservation at the British
        Library. He has taught at the London College of Printing,
        The Colchester Institute, as well as undertaking many
        workshops in the UK and abroad.

The cost of the classes is UKP345 UK per week and includes all
tuition, which is in English. For further information please email
Cheryl Porter cporter<-a t->monteproject< . >com or see

    <URL:http://www.monteproject.com>


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:40
                 Distributed: Sunday, February 3, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-40-014
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