Where can I learn advanced bookbinding techniques?

October 11, 2022 1:46 PM

Where can I learn how to do this?

I've been binding books for about six years. I've gotten reasonably competent in some aspects of the craft, but I'm particularly stymied by gilding and leather onlay/inlay. I want to make beautiful things like the work pictured above, made by Leon Maillard in the 1920s. I'm not interested in the crafty weekend stuff that a lot of bookbinders are doing.
Do you have any recommendations for schools, bookbinders who teach, or online resources that might teach me the secrets of leather onlay and inlay, gilding, and whatever else is needed to make what I want to make? Thanks!

posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

I don't know where you're located but the North Bennet Street School in Boston has a full-time bookbinding course as well as various continuing education (night and weekend) classes. They are always adding new classes so it pays to check regularly when they post classes for the upcoming semester.

They also have a section on their website where you can hire students or graduates, you might find a tutor there who can instruct you.

I have taken some woodworking classes there and it is a world-class school where the instructors are some of the best at their craft. It is also America's oldest trade school.
posted by bondcliff at 1:54 PM on October 11, 2022 [2 favorites]

Penland School does intensive workshops in bookmaking.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 2:59 PM on October 11, 2022 [4 favorites]

Brien Beidler is a toolmaker who makes the tools for book-leather-working and would be a good person to ask. He is active on social media and has a podcast. He trained at North Bennet Street, fwiw.
posted by janell at 3:03 PM on October 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Jill Deiss offers classes for serious bookbinders at her Cat Tail Run bindery in Winchester, Va. (Link is to current year's offerings; she hasn't announced her 2023 workshops yet.) She also has a pretty extensive network and may be able to refer you to someone.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 3:39 PM on October 11, 2022 [2 favorites]

Look at the Bookbinding program at North Bennet Street School, and/or the faculty who teach in it.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:39 PM on October 11, 2022

The Craft of Bookbinding by Manly Banister describes everything you need to know to do that. The last couple chapters cover leather binding and gilded titles.

Also, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts is another place which offers courses in bookbinding, but as your profile doesn’t say where you’re located, its hard to suggest something close to you.
posted by DaveP at 7:00 PM on October 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

A friend of mine traveled from Philly to do a week-long workshop at Kalamazoo Book Arts. She loved it. She’s experienced but I’m not sure how her skills compare to yours. Let us know what you end up doing, if you can.
posted by Well I never at 8:31 PM on October 11, 2022

(can I just pop by and say, without being able to add anything useful, that I am genuinely cheered that so many "advanced bookbinding workshops" etc. are going on (in the face of *gestures broadly*). This is the world we are aiming for Come The Revolution)
posted by runincircles at 3:35 AM on October 12, 2022 [3 favorites]

Best answer: *Waves in bookbinding*

I'm also in a similar spot, and have been trying to teach myself gold tooling, but haven't been brave enough to tackle leather onlays. I've been really inspired lately by McCall Co. Bookbinding - he claims to be self taught and is very responsive on his IG page.
You might also want to check the following:
Don Rash Fine Bookbinder
American Academy of Bookbinding
Centro del Bel Libro Ascona
North Country Studio Workshops
Paper & Book Intensive
Samuel Feinstein
San Francisco Center for the Book
DA Bookbinding

Hope that helps!
posted by ikahime at 4:41 PM on October 20, 2022 [1 favorite]