Among the few medieval books available to us, the girdle book stands out because so few of its kind are known today, though they are often represented in the arts. Smith, associate professor head of cataloging and preservation programs copley library, university. These are books that needed to be specially protected because of a lot of use, a lot of wear. The medieval girdle book and advanced paper conservation. Contrary to previous assumptions that only clerics and the religious used girdle books, the medieval girdle book shows they also contain legal, medical, and philosophical contents. The medieval girdle book by margit smith on oak knoll new castle, delaware. The medieval girdle book margit smith oak knoll books. Go medieval by attaching a book to your belt atlas obscura. Smith is an exploration of a rare type of book construction. Description of the initial investigation into the locations, styles and production of twentythree girdle books in museums and libraries in the united states and europe. Smith again, a great book, check it out via ill unless. For hundreds of years before the invention of pockets, various small objects such as scissors, keys, pomanders, folded almanacs and.
Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. What a hot mobile device from the 16th century tells us. Nicholas pickwoads research works university of the. Smith focuses on their construction and materials employed. The medieval girdle book by margit smith on oak knoll medieval books medieval manuscript illuminated manuscript medieval life books art old books vintage books antique books happy retirement wishes new castle, delaware. Thursday 21 april, 6pm the billiard room, chelsea college of arts, 16 john islip street, london sw1p 4ju ligatus is delighted to announce a public lecture on the history and conservation of medieval girdle books by professor margit smith. The most valuable resources i used for this projects are the following. Girdle books i think these things are the neatest little innovations and at some point im going to make one for myself. The book is sewn on double cords and has leathercovered book boards with silver clasps. During my ma studies, i had the pleasure of reading multiple times margit smith s the medieval girdle book to assist in creating my own girdle book model. Girdle books were small portable books worn by medieval european monks, clergymen and. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books.
Reviewed by leah humenuck the medieval girdle book by margit j. In the medieval girdle book, the author provides a comprehensive look at these extremely rare books. They have long fascinated those interested in the history of the book, conservators, and those in societies for creative anachronism. The headband is stitched by hand and the book end papers are handmarbled. Wikipedia has a reasonable definition, but for all intents and purposes they were books that were connected to a reasonable length of leather so as to allow the individual to wear it from their belts or. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The girdle binding can be defined as one w a long extension, usually at the tail, that ends in a knot, hook or extra material that can be fastened to a medieval persons girdlebelt. By shedding light on the development and use of girdle books, margit j.
Jun 27, 2015 once the book was covered, we wrapped our books tightly with an ace bandage to help ensure good adhesion. See more ideas about medieval books, book binding and books. They consisted of a book whose leather binding continued loose below the cover of the book in a long tapered tail with a large knot at the end which could be tucked into ones girdle. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. How to make a medieval girdle book lovable history. Nicholas pickwoads 17 research works with 18 citations and 332 reads, including. Smith s the medieval girdle book, an encyclopedic baedeker to every one of the 26 girdle books known to exist. The photography is of a high quality and the overall information is well done, whetting ones curiosity about each book. Jun 3, 2015 explore stepanchizhovs board bookbinding. The book is looking good and im very happy with my progress. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing.
The medieval girdle book by margit smith on book binding. Stanford libraries official online search tool for books, media, journals, databases, government documents and more. Smith discovered that some girdle books have just one extended leather cover, while other have two nested covers, with the outer one designed for carrying. Girdle book from germanisches nationalmuseum in nuremberg hs. Monthly meetingmargit smith on the medieval girdle books. Monthly meeting margit smith on the medieval girdle books free, open to public wednesday, july 18, 2018.
Smith gives a thorough description of these known examples in the medieval girdle book, having visited libraries in europe and the united states. The archaeology of medieval bookbinding, john szirmai ill is great for this. The medieval girdle book by margit smith on oak knoll. The medieval girdle book by margit smith on handmade. Forms of literature, early modern period, medieval books, watercolor journal, late middle ages, paper engineering, book journal, journals, book art. I made one of these, and its way cool, based on one that i saw at the british library.
The result of these experiences is the medieval girdle book. By this extension the book was hung from the belt with its head down, so when swung up it could be read without detaching it from margit smith. Smiths the medieval girdle book, an encyclopedic baedeker to every one of the 26 girdle books known to exist. Margit smith retired since 2010 after almost twenty years as head of cataloging and preservation at university of san diegos copley library, margit now divides her time between binding and repairing books in her studio, and finishing her book about medieval girdle books.
Bk, florida state university, 1974 author from the publisher. After 20 minutes, we unwrapped our books, placed blotters both inside and outside of our covers, and pressed the book under weight overnight. A study of this scope, which contributes significantly to the information available has been lacking until now and makes this the first thorough treatment of all so far known girdle books. There are hundreds of artistic representations of girdle books, but only 26 medieval girdle books have survived in their original binding, the oldest datable example being from kastl, germany ca. Doc the medieval girdle book project margit j smith. With 26 remaining known examples, the girdle book is an item worthy of a comprehensive look. Later, i found that barbara gordon has done some work on these and webbed it be sure to check out her article. Doc the medieval girdle book project margit j smith academia. Girdle books with religious contents girdle books with legal contents girdle books with philosophical contents the possibles.
Apr 24, 2018 the part of the book cover that distinguishes a girdle book often looks like a wee willie winkie hat, flopped on top of the book, or a gandalfesque beard, stretching down into a neat triangle. My handmade girdle book was made of my own moldmade paper. Apr 19, 2018 these are books that needed to be specially protected because of a lot of use, a lot of wear. See more ideas about medieval books, book binding and book making. Between the 14th and 16th centuries a littleknown book format, now called the girdle book, was used throughout various european countries. Girdle books were small portable books worn by medieval european monks, clergymen and aristocratic nobles as a popular accessory to medieval costume, between the th and 16th centuries. In her introduction smith describes research and publication about girdle bookresearch,quotingjanosa. What a hot mobile device from the 16th century tells us about. See more ideas about book binding, medieval books and book making. Girdle books are not hard to find in late medieval art, in numbers far out of proportion to the tiny number that is known to have survived. Girdle books are mysterious, almost mythical structures, designed to allow the owner to wear the book, hanging from a long tail attached to ones belt girdle. A girdle book is an unusual form with an extension which is tucked into a girdle the medieval word for belt and worn as an accessory.
The girdle book is distinguished by a cover that extends beyond the limits of the book itself and may end in a knot, hook or ring, or may be left ungathered. Smith gives a thorough description of these known examples in the medieval girdle book, having visited libraries in europe and the united states to research them first hand. Smith, associate professor head of cataloging and preservation programs copley library, university of san diego amigos library services fellowship final report december 2004 detail of 15th century painting. However, being such a specialized technique, the girdle book lacks the attention given to more popular medieval binding methods in the enthusiast community notable exceptions are the girdle book project, a collaboration between margit smith of the university of san diego and jim bloxam of cambridge university library and smith s monograph. Nov 16, 2018 girdle book from germanisches nationalmuseum in nuremberg hs. Smith fully describes each book, from binding details to content and cultural context, even citing contemporary references such as one of my own girdle books, a tongueincheek riff on the format. The medieval girdle book and advanced paper conservation workshops amigos fellowship final report december 2004 submitted by margit j. The medieval girdle book and advanced paper conservation workshops margit j. Aliens may be staying the fuck away from our planet to avoid catching whatever it is that makes us such a failure.
Workshop in montefiascone, italy, where the class in the construction of girdle. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. This book is illustrated with more than 270 color photographs taken by the author or reproduced from contemporary works of art to show their use during the middle ages. It surprises us how much was acomplished by such a invalid people. Most of them were probably used daily, says margit j. This book has been sewn into a swaddling girdle to protect.
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