This book was inspired by a 13th Century book found in "Twelve Centuries of Bookbinding: 400-1600" Paul Needham (see image below). The original book was described as followed; "Silver and Jewelled Bookcover, Weingarten, ca. 1220-45"

"Silver repousse bookcover, attached to upper cover of leather binding; silver filigree and gem mounts; tooled rim around upper and lower boards. Binding of pink leather over wooden boards, blind-stamped; sewn on three double thongs. Edges plain, cut flush with boards."

• Book Components
  • Wood Cover
    • Two piece of 1/4" bass wood cut down to 4"x6". (oak would have been used in period)
    • 3 holes made in each side. Grooves cut for threading leather thong for spine support.
  • Pages
    • 5 sheets of 20"x30" 'hot pressed' 70 pound paper was used to make the signatures.
    • Each sheet was folded, cut and folded again (3 times) to make 16 page signatures.
    • Each signature was marked and pilot holes were made for sewing together.
    • 3 pieces of 6" long leather thong wre placed in a 'loom'
    • Signatures were then sewn onto the leather thongs which became the spine of the book.
  • Spine
    • The leather thongs were then woven through the grooves in the wood cover and glued into place (in the holes using glue and wood wedges).
    • The pages were then cut down to be flush with the wood cover.
    • The spine was then covered with glue to fill in the grooves.
    • A 3"x5" piece of muslin was attached to the spine as reinforcement.
  • Leather Binding
    • Leather was dyed red (based on the 13th century pink leather book which the artist believes to have once been red but which faded over time)
    • Leather was cut down to the size of the book with 1" extra on each side.
    • Leather was wrapped around the book, pulled to show the thongs on spine and glued into place.
    • The inside corners were mitered and cut to be flush.
• Metalwork
  • Bezels for Stones
    • Bezel were construction for 28 stones. Each piece sized, cut and soldered shut. The pieces were then cut to give 'scalloped' edge.
    • Twisted wire accent made for each bezel, shaped and added to bezel.
  • Backplates
    • Backplates were cut out of 24 gauge sterling silver and filed to match the historical book cover. The top and bottom plates are "U" shaped to accommodate the larger end stones.
    • Bezels were filed down to be flush with backplate. Bezels were then placed and soldered onto backplate.
  • Filigree
    • More twisted wire was made to form filigree. Two pieces of wire were twisted by hand into long segments. The wire was then cut down to make filigree accents.
    • Wire was formed into shapes to 'flow' around the stones. The filigree style was 'freeflowing' to match the look of the original piece. (described as being "a much cruder piece of work than [the] three other Weingarten treasure covers")
    • Filigree was flattened and soldered to backplate.
  • Polishing and Stone Setting
    • Each segment of backplate was 'pickled' (A mild acid bath that removes oxidation from the soldering process).
    • The segments were then cleaned up with abrasive wheels and polishing rouge.
    • Each stone was then set into place using a burnisher. Some stones needed to be raised using cardboard and silver sheet.
  • Oxidization
    • Each segment of backplate was submerged into a hot 'bath' of water mixed with 'Liver of Sulfur'. This bath causes silver to turn a brownish-black which gives the silver an 'aged' look.
    • Using 000 steel wool and polishing clothes, the filigree and bezels were polished to give contrast.
  • West Kingdom Device
    • Template made of West Kingdom arms transferred onto gold-filled 24 gauge plate.
    • Arms cut out using a drill and a jeweler's saw.
    • Plate solder onto 24 gauge sterling silver backplate.
    • Faux emerald green enamel was added in cutwork.
    • Device filed and polished.