Bookbinding and restoration, two handcrafts

A binder can also be a restorer ...

Before being a good restorer, you have to be ... an excellent bookbinder !

Depending on the case, the original binding is either preserved or reworked so as to be identical in the same style.

The restoration of paper (notices, manuscripts, etc.) may be done independently without requiring actual binding. 

As regards aesthetics, there are two opposing schools of thought, one maintaining that all work should be invisible, the other that restoration be discreet but discernible.

We share this latter point of view, which in a way does mean respecting the history of the document or object concerned.

In our own view, any and all renovation work comes under the heading of restoration

Thus the repair of just a torn page is carried out just as painstakingly as a major restoration (calling for advanced equipment, specialized know-how, intuition and, on occasion creativity). 

The basic rules are clearly defined and must absolutely be respected :

• Work carried out on an original document must never damage it.

• All the processes employed must be reversible.

• The materials used neutral and durable.