Join us for a virtual lecture and demonstration! For at least fifteen centuries, tanned leather has provided a durable, attractive, and pleasing tactile sensation for the covering of books. The leather must be selectively pared – reduced in thickness — to achieve proper functioning and meet aesthetic expectations. Book Conservator and Knife Maker Jeff Peachey will demonstrate the hand paring of vegetable tanned leather and discuss in detail the techniques and thought processes that this involves. Bookbinders, leatherworkers and anyone with an interest in traditional crafts will enjoy this practical and theoretical deep dive into hand and tool interaction.
Missed the Lecture? No problem, you can access a recording of the lecture.
Jeff Peachey is the owner of Peachey Conservation LLC, a NYC-based studio which specializes in preserving the intrinsic, artifactual, aesthetic and historic values of books. With more than 30 years experience. He has taught book conservation workshops internationally, and has been awarded numerous fellowships to support his book history research, including at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center (Italy). He is a Visiting Instructor for the Library and Archives Conservation Education Consortium of Buffalo State, New York University’s Conservation Center, and the Winterthur/ University of Delaware. To learn more check out Jeff Peachey’s books at jeffpeachey.com, and tools at peacheytools.com.
