15 March 2025 - Shaun Thompson Workshop: Secondary Endbands with Decorative Braiding

Teacher: Shaun Thompson

Description: During the 14^th and 15^th century in the low countries, many primary endbands were braided. A braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing one or more strands of a flexible material such as leather or thread. This functional component of the endband is sewn through the covering of the textblock. It contributes to the stability of the connection between the cover and the codex.

During this practical workshop, students will learn a variety of braided endbands. First, participants will be guided through a primary wound endband with back beads over a single core. We will then explore two secondary braided elements: first, ‘Spanish braiding’ as described by Szirmai in The Archaeology of Medieval Bookbinding. Secondly, a demonstration of how to work the single colour ‘cross braided endband.’ An introductory talk at the start of the workshop will explain the basic technical and decorative variations of braided endbands and place them into context.

Tool list will be sent to participants in due course.
Cost: £50 for members/£75 for non-members + £10 materials fee = £60 for members/£85 for non-members

Number of attendees: 15

Biography: Shaun Thompson is the Conservation Manager at Cambridge University Library. He is a dedicated advocate for book and paper conservation in the heritage sector, specialising in the care and repair of manuscripts and printed books.

Shaun’s research interests include early European book structures, their structural characteristics and the materials and innovative mechanisms used to create them. He has presented his work at international conferences and published his research in peer-reviewed journals.

Shaun has taught at leading conservation schools such as West Dean College of Arts, City and Guilds London School of Art, University of Amsterdam, and the Montefiascone Conservation Project in Italy. He has made significant contributions to the field of Conservation, notably through his work as a teacher and mentor to conservation students in the UK and abroad.

Events run from 10:30 - 15:30 unless otherwise stated at the Congregational Chapel, Kelly Street, Kentish Town, NW1 8PH.  The pedestrian entrance is between 34 & 36 Kelly Street and there is limited car parking at the rear of the building on Church Avenue, off Kentish Town Road near the corner with Prince of Wales Road. If you plan to bring a car, we recommend that you check if London Congestion Charges apply. Kentish Town Underground Station is shut. Please check your journey before you travel.

Tea and coffee are available throughout the day and there are local cafés and sandwich shops within a few minutes’ walk. There is a lift which can be used when an event is being held in the 1st floor hall.

Please contact Talitha Wachtelborn [email protected] with any questions.

Bookings for London & South Events

• The closing date for bookings is 17 January 2025. Please fill in the form by this date. We recommend that you make a note of your preferences to avoid double booking, cancellations, and unnecessary extra work for our volunteers.
• For workshops with limited places, we will need to operate a lottery system to allocate spots fairly.
• You will be notified of any places that you successfully obtain after the date listed above and will then be asked for payment.
• Zoom event log-in details will be sent after places have been allocated.
• Payment is by bank transfer. Bank details will be sent along with the notice of a successful place. Please pay promptly when notified you have a place or it may be passed along to the next person on the waitlist. This is to ensure full attendance and benefit for the highest number of members.
• Refunds are not available 2 weeks before an event.