Project « Bindings: between utilitarian design and works of art »
The primary function of bindings is to protect the paper or parchment contents of the book. They can be examined from many different angles, as simple functional designs or as genuine works of art created to appeal to rich bibliophiles.
Mariemont’s collections can be used to investigate workshop practices, the tools and materials used and the profile and expectations of those who bought them. Raoul Warocqué commissioned the recovering of many of his paperback works and these transactions have been documented in the archives, offering an insight into his relationships with the book binding community, in particular Charles de Samblanx and Jacques Weckesser.
Today, Mariemont offers artists opportunities to conduct research into book design and creation, thereby perpetuating Warocqué’s love of artistic book bindings.
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Scientific team
The research carried out at Mariemont is organised around 8 thematic areas which reflect the specific features of the scientific work carried out in the museum sector.
There are around thirty collaborative research projects in which members of the Mariemont scientific team are involved.
The results of this research are made available to the scientific community and are the subject of ongoing accessibility work to ensure that they are passed on to the public.