Basic Leather Binding Class

Temporarily unavailable until further notice

PRIVATE CLASS: Basic Leather Binding

NOTE: To enroll, you must have taken our basic cloth binding and leather paring classes. Or you must have knowledge and experience on cloth binding that meets our standard, as well as the skill of paring leather. If you haven’t taken our classes before, please show us your works and tell us your experience in this trade, so that we can determine whether you are qualified to enroll in this class.

You will learn how to bind a *French-joint full leather binding with false-raised bands and gold embossing either by hot stamping machine and/or hand tools by the end of this class. Whole session would last approximately 8 to 14 hours, divided sessions over two to three days; 1st day on *Basic forwarding, 2nd and/or 3rd day on Case-making & the finishing of the binding. There will be an additional brief follow up/Q&A session on a separate day if desired.  To enroll, you need to bring your own paring steel/knife.

(NOTE: We do not work with French or Swiss style paring knives. ) All other materials and tools are supplied.

*French-Joint binding is a style of binding which case and book block are made separately then glued together at the end.
*Basic forwarding is a process of preparing a book block, which tasks basically consist of folding paper to sewing of a book, ploughing the edges to rounding and sewing headbands.

Maximum of 2 persons per session.
One person: $780
Two persons: $730 each.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Mie (Mia) H. Radcliffe: Bookbinder /Restorer in charge
She started her apprenticeship under the tutelage of  Joel Radcliffe in late 1997 and has become the official assistant bookbinder/restorer since 2003. She had worked behind Joel diligently and known as “our best kept secret”. She has been in charge of most binding and restoration works (except for publishing) since 2006, and has become in charge of  all operations at ARS OBSCURA Bookbinding & Restoration Co. since June, 2020. To see some of her works, please visit her blog.