Study Programme 2008

Week 1

28th July - 1st August

Re-creating Mediaeval Colours used in Manuscript Painting

Participants will study the history, geographical origins, chemistry and iconographic significance of the colours used by mediaeval 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 - FULL!!

4th August - 8th August

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 filagree 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 - FULL!!

11th August - 15th August

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

18th August - 22nd August

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. .

Costs, Taking Part and How To Sign-Up...

Costs: The cost of each course is £345.00 ($620.00) per week. This includes all materials (except skins) and tuition, which is in English. The programme is non-profit making and any extra money is used to buy materials for the Barbarigo library, the archives and their collections.

The Montefiascone Project is a not-for-profit organisation.

Classes are from 9am to 1.30pm, and afternoons can be used for private study or for finishing work, 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 much of the time, the library will be open and participants may wish to help with the cataloguing programme and other preservation / conservation initiatives in progress.

For details of the Nicholas Hadgraft Montefiascone Scholarship for 2008, see http://www.conservation-by-design.co.uk

Accommodation: Participants may stay in our centrally-located house, with up to three persons per room. There are three bedrooms, kitchen, two bathrooms and a large sitting room. Prices are £12 ($24 US) per person per night.

There are also three centrally-located hotels, with special rates for participants on the Montefiascone Project.

Download the Application Form in Word (.doc)
Download the Application Form in PDF (.pdf)
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Further Information can be obtained from emailing info@monteproject.com or
Telephone +44 (0)7899 856 314. / +44 (0)1223 367 511

The Montefiascone Project, Cheryl Porter, 7 Venice Lodge, 55 Maida Vale, London, W9 1SD, England, UK.