21^st – 23^rd February 2012, Horn, Austria

Further education course held by Mag. Ilse Mühlbacher. She graduated from Vienna University of Applied Arts (Script design) and from University of Fine Arts Vienna (art teacher) and is recently working at the Austrian National Library.

Workshop

This workshop, consisting of an introductory PowerPoint-supported lecture as well as practical exercises, addresses librarians and people working in libraries, museums and archives who are interested in the assessment and documentation of decorated paper. The workshop will cover the history and development of decorated paper, their application in the field of bookmaking, a review and detailed description of manufacturing techniques, as well as methods to identify the various techniques.
The history of decorated paper is closely connected to the invention of paper itself and goes back to the early part of the 15^th century. At that time, a great number of manufacturing techniques were devised, which, in combination with each other, brought forth a great variety of decorations, patterns and design possibilities.
A multitude of decorated paper can be found in libraries and archives, mostly in the form of book covers and book end papers; however, decorated paper was also used to inlay chests, cabinets, and musical instruments and can be found in collections. The first collections of decorated paper originate at the end of the 19^th century and are very helpful as a guide for the purpose of classification. The complexity facing the proper documentation of decorated paper lies in the great diversity of manufacturing techniques and the judgment necessary to correctly identify and denominate them.
In the workshop, a review of the history of decorated paper and its manufacturing techniques will be followed by a discussion of selected examples that highlight the problems surrounding the identification of decorated paper as well as the options available for doing so, focusing both on the difficulties pertaining to correct dating and on the relevant terminology. A number of processed and unprocessed specimens will first be presented to illustrate an academically founded classification system; subsequently, books, papers, folders or other pertinent objects brought by the participants can be discussed, identified and described.

Contents

Theory:

• Definition of decorated paper
• Decorated paper in books: book covers and end papers
• History of decorated paper
• Manufacturing through the ages
• Trade
• Pattern collection
• Differences in techniques
• Documentation and description

Practice:

Manufacture of hand decorated paper:

• Brush paper
• Paste paper in different variations
• Dribbeled paper
• Sprinkled paper
• Marbeled paper

The course language will be English. The deadline for application is one mounth before the course starts. The course fee plus accommodation (2 nights) is 380.00 € plus 10% VAT. The number of participants is restricted to 8. »»» Registration
 
 
The venue is the Renaissance castle housing the European Research Centre for Book and Paper Conservation-Restoration.

Accommodation during the course is within the building and is included in the price.
 
After application you will be provided with further information.
 
Participant also can bring own samples if they wish to.