Sewing, Adhesion and Grain Direction in Book Conservation
Channel: Rita Udina · Paper & Book Conservation
Date: 2022-05-20

Structural Value of Adhesion vs. Sewing in Book Conservation.
Lecture given in the AIC 50th annual Meeting ( @AmericanInstituteforConservation ), Los Angeles, May, 2022.

💬 [Subtitles in ENGLISH, subtítulos en CASTELLANO]

👉 More information: https://www.ritaudina.com/en/portfolio/sewing-adhesion-and-grain-direction-in-book-conservation/

Abstract:
Bookbinding structures consist basically on sewn or adhered components. The type of attachment of each part to the rest defines the mechanism a book will function and be handled.
Conservators are compelled to preserve the main supports unaltered and yet precisely because structural parts allow the functioning of the object it is often accepted that when they are damaged they are better replaced rather than solely preserved. 
However, restoring the original structure is not always enough, specifically for disproportioned bindings. That is, those that are not efficient in their current proportion (size, weight or other features), being therefore not endurable even when restored.
The benefits of sewn attachments in flexible areas as opposite of adhered ones, are to be considered in the ever complex decision making of book conservation. Whenever sewing is not feasible, the grain direction shall provide a structural nature to some extent, noteworthy for adhered movable unions. 

💬 [Subtitles in ENGLISH, subtítulos en CASTELLANO]

Keywords: Book, Conservation, Book structure, Adhesion, Sewing, Bookbinding, Archaeology of Bookbinding

⌛ Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction
00:36 - Book structures & conservation
01:28 - Adhesion and Sewing
02:32 - Three categories of examples:
     02:48 🟣 Disproportioned books
             03:06 - 1️⃣ Book with narrow spine (Archiu Generau d'Aran)
             03:41 - 2️⃣ A really heavy book (CoAC)
             04:17 - 3️⃣ Small book with much too large edges (Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat)
             04:49 - 4️⃣ Book with stiff spine lining (Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat)
             05:30 - 5️⃣ Book restoration (Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat)
             06:08 - 2️⃣ A really heavy book (CoAC)
    06:49 🟣 Books that lack sewing (albums)
             06:49 - 6️⃣ Album with guarded stubs (Pons Serra)
             07:31 - 7️⃣ Album with fabric stubs (Arxiu Fotogràfic de la Ciutat)
    08:20 🟣 Grain direction as structure provider
             08:20 -  Incunabula with opposite grain direction (Biblioteca Pública de Girona Carles Rahola)
             10:01 -  Incunabula with vertical grain direction (Biblioteca Pública de Girona Carles Rahola)
             10:11 -  Sewn unsupported bindings:
                           8️⃣ Binding #1 (J. Godàs)
             10:48 -  9️⃣ Binding #2 (Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyers Industrials de Barcelona)
14:00 - Conclusion
14:28 - Acknowledgement


🙏 Acknowledgement:
For their permission to share the images of their books to the Public Library of Girona Carles Rahola (@bpggirona), Archive of Vallès Occidental (Terrassa), National Archive of Catalonia, Government of Catalonia ( @ArxiuNacionalCat  ).
Conservators: Tea Borovina, Paula Bueso, Clàudia Callau, Laura Corso, SeHee Song, Ana Tourais

Let’s connect!
 ★ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritaudina_conservation
 ★ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ritaudinataller
 ★ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RitaUdinaTaller
 ★ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaudina
 ★ Blog & website: https://ritaudina.com/en
 ★ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaudina/
 ★ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.es/RitaUdinaTaller/
 ★ Academia.edu: https://independent.academia.edu/RitaUdina
 ★ ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rita_Udina
 ★ Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qYNG_f8AAAAJ&hl=en