Fire-Proof Leather Box

 Registration is closed for this event

July 26th, 2019 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: Dominic Riley
  • Workshop Type: Binding
  • Workshop Status: Wait-list
  • Workshop Start: July 26th, 2019 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: August 23rd, 2019 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 3

The fire-proof box is the ultimate in Victorian bookbinding craftsmanship. First made by the famous bookbinding firm Zaehnsdorf for Quaritch, the London bookseller, its fire-resistant qualities became legend after the great fire at Riviere's when those bindings already put into their boxes survived the blaze, while those waiting to be boxed perished.

The structure is fairly straightforward and comes out of the fancy leather goods trade, resembling cigar and spectacles cases. Good quality paper is wrapped around a form made to the exact shape of the book. When the desired thickness is achieved, this first, inner case is cut to size and covered in leather. A second form is made around the first, cut to size, capped head and tail and cut in half. After covering, the lower portion is stuck around the inner case, the upper part forming the 'lid'. The whole may then be tooled.

The fire-proof box is strong, functional and elegant. Since it is a time-consuming structure, it is not often made nowadays except for special books.

*This workshop takes place over three Fridays to allow for drying time of the paper wraps, which need to be added by the students at home, one at a time, during the week between class. 


Materials to Bring: Leather bound book.

Workshop Fee (includes $100 materials fee): $475.00

Date & Time: Fridays, July 26, August 16 & 23, 2019* :: 9:30am-5:30pm
*Please note: the gap between workshop sessions is intentional.

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 | Dominic Riley

Dominic Riley Is an internationally renowned bookbinder, artist, lecturer and teacher. He has his bindery in the Lake District, from where he travels across the UK teaching and lecturing. He spends part of the year teaching in San Francisco and across the USA. His work is mostly restoration and Design Binding, for which he has won many prizes in the Designer Bookbinders competition. He was elected Fellow of DB in 2008. His bindings are in collections worldwide, including the British Library, the Grolier Club in New York and the San Francisco Public Library. In 2013 he won first prize, the Sir Paul Getty Award, in the International Bookbinding Competition. Dominic is President of the Society of Bookbinders.


Past Student Reviews:

“Very knowledgeable, expert bookbinder.”

“Dominic never disappoints, this time he made everything feel easy and comfortable.”

[What did you like most about the workshop?] “All the historical information about the treatments and techniques.” 

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States