Making prop journals for US television
I have just completed an entirely novel kind of bespoke bookbinding commission of three journals done in a historically accurate binding style popular in the 1880s. These are to be used as props for the actors in the award-winning US television series, The Gilded Age. This is a historical drama series created and written by Julian Fellows for HBO and set in the boom years of 1880s New York city, a period colloquially known as the ‘gilded age’. The series is available to watch on Sky Atlantic in the UK and has the vibe of a soap opera written by US 19th century novelist, Edith Warton.
I was approached by Hollywood Prop Master, Martin Lasowitz, for the commission and we set about designing the aesthetics of the journals together. We used a genuine notebook of the period as the aesthetic inspiration for the bindings:
Genuine 1880 notebook used for inspiration in designing the binding
This style is known as a half-bound book in leather and marbled paper, as the leather coverings of the spine and corners make up half of the covers in total, with the other half covered by the marbled paper. There was also a rounded and backed spine which dictated half the pages would be sewn together.
In order to keep the journals in accordance with the cinematography, costuming and set design used on the show, Martin requested a maroon leather with a hand marbled red paper washed with a rippled marbling design. For the interior of the book, simple ivory endpapers and ivory lined paper were chosen. After that it was simply a matter of bringing everything together:
Final cover design in maroon leather and red marbled paper
It was finally decided to make three identical books in this binding style for use as props on the show. They were completed two weeks later and are now on the set in America waiting to be used. I am very much looking forward to seeing them in use in an episode of the upcoming season of, The Gilded Age. It was an interesting and enjoyable commission, involving historical research and interesting aesthetic decision making; I hope to be able to complete future bindings for use in television and films.
The final completed journals
Enjoying the best that contemporary binding has to offer and catching up with an inspiration…
9th July 2024, The Benjamin Spademan Gallery, London
A wonderful trip to London for Aulwynd Bindery today visiting UNIQUE, a sale exhibition of contemporary bindings at The Benjamin Spademan Gallery in St. James. I knew in advance that this was not one to miss for any interested hobbyist or professional binder, as the bindings on display were entirely created by Fellows of the Designer Bookbinders society. This is an international organisation dedicated to promoting contemporary bookbinding at the highest level and providing a forum for professionals and dedicated hobbyists to interact or share work and knowledge. I myself am an Associate Member and for us professionals just starting out the society is an invaluable resource for developing relationships with other artisans and promoting work through the prestigious competitions and awards organised by them each year.
Given that the exhibition was showcasing major recent work by Fellows of the society I knew to expect some breathtaking examples and I was not disappointed. All the work on display was of the highest calibre but I will mention two bindings that innovated with form and technique in a way that caught my eye. Sue Doggett is a binder who has recently focused on the use of embroidered stitching on her covers and esoteric spiritualism as a design theme, and her binding of Shakespeare’s The Tempest on display here is no exception. The deep, kaleidoscopic pastel colours that make up her cover design picked out by detailed hand stitched embroidery come together to portray an alchemical impressionist scene – magical. Another binding, Réarrangement de Poupée by Mark Cockram, creates a new way for collectors to display books by deconstructing the form of a traditional book enclosure. Reimagined as an open frame that could be hung on a wall as easily as set on a shelf, the enclosure is left open at the centre with wings that fold in and hold the open cover boards of the book on display, allowing the endpapers and text block to stand on show while the book is not being used, incredible.
Mark himself is another reason I was particularly excited to visit the UNIQUE exhibition in London. As well as being a Fellow of the Designer Bookbinders society, Mark Cockram is a highly experienced artisan and teacher of traditional bookbinding, as well as being one of the six designer bookbinders who are retained by the Man Booker Prize to provide one off presentation bindings of the books that reach the final shortlist for the prize. He is also, in his capacity as a teacher, the man who originally tutored me in traditional bookbinding and started my passion for this career as a hobbyist all the way through to establishing Aulwynd Bindery this year. I had not caught up with Mark since moving into bookbinding as a professional, so it was a joy to visit him in his Barnes studio after the exhibition and discuss books, bindings and future tutoring together.
All in all a wonderful and inspiring day. I cannot recommend UNIQUE and the incredible artisans whose work the exhibition is championing enough and I am looking forward to continuing to work with Mark in the future. Designer Bookbinders competitions will be hearing from Aulwynd Bindery very soon!
Serendipity and time travel – from the 18th century to 2024
I can’t quite believe the stroke of luck I experienced this afternoon…
7th July 2024, Debach Airfield, Clopton
I can’t quite believe the stroke of luck I experienced this afternoon. Having returned from a beautiful holiday in the Tuscan hills last night, I saw that there was a flea market taking place on the old World War II air base near the Bindery here in deepest Suffolk. I’ve visited this event once before and, to be honest, I expected very little as it’s a small and fledgling affair, but given the same can be said of my own business I decided to take a look. Although I established the Bindery only a couple of months ago, I have already found that engaging with my local community in Suffolk brings enough chance meetings and word of mouth introductions to make a real difference, so I always try and make the effort wherever possible.
Nevertheless, I’m a great believer in fate, although even I could not have imagined the scale of serendipity experienced as a bookbinder at the Clopton Runway Flea. There, on the very first table of the very first stall, nestled between rusty farm tools and blanched silverware, was a fully intact and perfectly preserved bookpress. On closer inspection I realised it was a true gem, the solid walnut wood boards were undamaged along with their original screw press arms and block nuts, one of which still retained the original leather surround designed to make it more comfortable to use. This was all the more remarkable given that the label informed me that the press dated from the late 18th century!
Incredible find though it was I knew not to get my hopes up just yet. The world of bookbinding has been a niche artisan trade since the mid 20th century when the automation of bookmaking at mass scale and the resulting loss of apprenticeships largely stopped the traditional trade in its tracks. As such, purpose made equipment for bookbinders remains extremely expensive even in 2024 – and that’s when the equipment is made new and from cheap materials. A genuine antique bookpress, especially of the large format I could see on the stall in front of me, is always going to be an expensive item.
Once more, the fates were with me, and yet again serendipity to the rescue. Noticing my interest in the piece the stall owner came over and on explaining that I’m a traditional bookbinder with a newly started bindery, a broad grin spread across his face. During the animated conversation which resulted he asked if I would put the press to its intended use. Given that I would, he waived any question of the asking price and said I must have it for an amount affordable for a new business and took my contact details as he was in need of book repair work. A fantastic deal was struck, and Aulwynd Bindery is now the proud owner of a rare and beautiful 18thcentury bookpress. So if anyone reading this is a small and fledgling business owner get out to your local events and make yourself known, it can really pay off!