This is an in-person workshop. All students and the instructor must show proof of vaccination against Covid-19 and agree to wear a mask for the duration of the class unless otherwise announced by SFCB. If you choose to complete the registration process you are agreeing to these terms.

St. Cuthbert’s Gospel of St. John (previously known as the Stonyhurst Gospel) dates from the end of the 7th century. It was found in remarkably good condition in the year 1104 inside the coffin of St. Cuthbert, bishop of Lindisfarne, who now rests at Durham Cathedral.

St Cuthbert’s Gospel is a small binding, very beautiful and exquisitely made, and is of tremendous importance to bookbinders not only as an example of early English binding, with its intriguing construction, but also for its decoration, which draws on both Islamic, Celtic, and Anglo-Saxon influences. It is now on display in the permanent exhibition of treasures at the British Library.

The book is sewn by link stitch with thread laced into wooden boards. It has a primary endband with a secondary endband sewn through the spine leather. A Celtic knotwork pattern is laid out on the boards with thin cord, and is attached using an ingenious technique of weaving and pegging.

The book is covered in terracotta goatskin moulded over the cords, which picks out the design in relief on the upper board. It is then embellished with a little blind tooling, and part of the tooled area is picked out with yellow pigment, closely emulating the original decoration.

Some leather paring experience will be helpful but beginning bookbinders are welcome regardless of experience.

Materials to Bring: Please bring what you have from the list below. If there are items you don't have, it's okay - students can share. If you have little or nothing from this list, please let us know.

Preferred

Small hand-powered drill (such as one made by Fiskars), not electric.
Small drill bits (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 mm or thereabouts)
Bone or Teflon folders
Scalpel and blades
Sandpaper, various grits (between about 200 to 350)
Sanding block
Metal engineer's square (L-shaped)
Natural sponge
Paste brush
Very small/fine artist's brushes

Optional (bring only if you already have and they are easy to carry)

Paring machine (Scharf-fix or Brockman, do not especially buy a cheap one made in China)
Paring knife and strop
Paring stone
Tweezers
Apron
G - Clamps (Also called C - Clamps)

Workshop Fee (includes materials fee): $750.00
Scholarships available; click here to apply

Date & Time: Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 2022 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class.

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.

About the Instructor | Michael Burke

Michael Burke studied bookbinding with Dominic Riley and paper conservation with Karen Zukor. He lives in the Lake District, where he teaches bookbinding. In recent years he has taught and lectured at Society of Bookbinders conferences and seminars, and at Guild of Bookworkers meetings in the USA, as well as teaching tours in Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. Each year he teaches summer school at the San Francisco Center for the Book and across the USA. Michael researches the structures of ancient and medieval bindings, and has a Masters degree in the History of the Book from the University of London.

Past Student Reviews:

“Michael was excellent.”

“Michael is a great teacher and understands that some of us love binding and are trying really hard to become great binders.”

“I loved this workshop. Michael was so knowledgeable, the teaching was really in-depth and the project we got to do was an incredible work of art in addition to being a historically important binding style. I especially liked how clearly Michael explained the elements of the structure, how the work together and how they informed later binding styles.”