Elisa Barros
Atelier du Papier
Traditional Japanese bookbinding: between aesthetics, functionality and conservation issues
At the 31st EAJRS Conference in 2021, we introduced our paper restoration studio, and outlined our approach to working with Japanese books (washo), focusing on their preservation and restoration through the use of traditional Japanese materials and techniques. Three years later, in 2024, we presented a case study addressing a common issue frequently observed in Japanese book collections: insect damage resulting in paper loss. In that presentation, we examined and evaluated six different methods for repairing these insect-induced holes.
This year, at the 35th EAJRS Conference, we aim to address another prevalent issue in the conservation of Japanese books: the fragility of the original sewing structures used in their bindings. As books are intended to be handled, read, preserved, and—more recently—digitized, their sewing often weakens over time, with threads deteriorating or breaking due to repeated use and manipulation.
In this presentation, we will explore how to best preserve the integrity of these bindings while maintaining the fundamental purpose of our collections: to ensure that these books remain accessible, readable, and capable of disseminating knowledge to future generations.