The essential elements of medieval boxes are still very much in use today, and can give an unusual flair to contemporary boxes. They can be surprisingly refined in construction and beautifully functional. These early boxes are a delight to look at, hold, and put to good use.

Inspired by both Inro and Pyxides, our boxes are for holding small items of great use, value or sentiment. They can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes. Japanese Inro are small layered boxes that are strung together and hang from the person. They can be used to contain tobacco or cosmetics, or other small personal items. Pyxides are similar ancient boxes for personal items, usually cylindrical with a lid. The term pyxides is also used in conservation referrring to "Charter Boxes" for medieval charters or Royal proclamations which bear huge red wax seals. These could be lined with decorative paper, manuscript folios or printers' waste.

This class will introduce students to the essential steps involved in creating a typical boarded boxes from the medieval period. This includes learning , easy-to-follow sequential template design, and which areas need accurate measurement and precise cutting, and which areas are much more tolerant. Students will be guided throught the various steps required to make different boxes of a variety of shapes.

The boxes may be covered in decorative papers or leather. The covering leather can be hand-dyed to achieve a suitably aged look. After minimum paring of the leather, the box will be covered. The leather will be further decorated by embossed tooling methods using either traditional decoration or your own innovative designs. The boxes will also be embellished with decorative elements such as closures.

Plainer boxes can be lined with leather and have gold tooled decorations secretly hidden inside, which is a feature of these medieval treasure boxes.

Some bookbinding experience is recommended along with some experience in working with leather. 

**Photos will soon be posted**

Materials to bring: bone folder, metal ruler, scalpel, cutting mat, dividers

Date & Time: Monday-Friday, July 14-18, 2014 |  9:30am – 5:30pm

Workshop + Materials Fee: $650

Prerequisites: None

Please review the SF Center for the Book Registration Policies before signing up for a class

About the Instructor | Michael Burke

Michael Burke studied bookbinding with Dominic Riley and paper conservation with Karen Zukor. Michael lives in the Lake District, England, where he teaches bookbinding as well at events across the UK. He is a past chair of the North West and North Wales region of SoB. He has taught for diverse book arts groups in the USA, including Los Angeles, Seattle and Salt Lake City. In recent years he has taught at the Paper and Book Intensive, travelled to São Paulo to teach for the Brazilian group ABER, and in 2011 presented Byzantine binding at the Seminar of the Guild of Bookworkers. Michael researches the structures of ancient and medieval bindings. He is currently studying for a Masters degree in the History of the Book at the University of London.

Past Student Reviews

"This is a brilliant class!"

"Superb teacher; excellent instruction that was always clear and pertinent, friendly to everyone"

"Michael is a gem of a teacher! I always love to take his classes!"

"So organized, excellent clear explanations, superb teacher, great that materials were well prepared"