Restoration of old
books is not an easy task. Knowledge, skills and certain skills are required. Erik Kwakkel, history professor at Leiden University, has also added creativity.
The scientist uses embroidery and knitting for restoration. Crochet or knitted the damaged folio pages. So on the perforated leaves, multi-colored ornaments appear - geometric shapes, vegetation and animals.
Often there are pages that hardly lend themselves to restoration. Torn pieces, large holes, and missing elements of images or texts. In this case, Erik Kwakkel picks up patches in the form of silk inserts or makes vertical stripes that "penetrate" the entire sheet.
Erik Kwakkel began restoring old books after students began to complain about the state of the folios. Inability to read and fully prepare for classes due to lack of information.
The history professor realized that it was necessary to leave some kind of graphic "tips" and thereby save the old editions. After several attempts and study of ancient methods of restoration, Erik Kwakkel got down to business. It turned out pretty well.
Gradually, decorative restoration turned into a hobby. On his pages on social networks, the history professor began to tell and show his works. The teacher's activities were appreciated not only by his students, but also by colleagues. Some of them even asked for open restoration workshops.
There are no followers of the creative restoration of Erik Kwakkel yet. But he has plenty of fans.
Recently it was reported about a Ukrainian designer who can
knit in large size.
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