Spellbound by books
- Luigi studied music at the DAMS University of Bologne
- Initially, he was a self-taught bookbinder
- Later, he followed bookbinding courses in Switzerland
After obtaining a diploma in electronics, Luigi Castiglioni studied music at the DAMS University of Bologne. But, during college, he fell in love with fine binding and restoration. He began studying bookbinding by himself as in Italy there were no fine binding schools. He began his career by destroying and rebuilding the books, trying to learn how they were made from the inside. When he was 29 years old, he opened his own workshop, and took some fine binding course at Centro del bel libro, a school in Switzerland. His most important clients today are from abroad, especially from France, Switzerland, Germany and the United States. Nowadays Luigi is known throughout the world as one of the most important and experienced fine bookbinders.
INTERVIEW
A fine bookbinder is a designer and an artisan who is able to resolve specific technical problems such as the frame construction of the books. It’s like an architect who builds his own house.
I use many different materials that let me experiment without limits: egg white as a glue, paper, cardboard, different kinds of leather, wood and 23 karat gold.
No, because in Italy my job doesn’t exist. It’s just me. There are fine binding schools in all Europe, but not in Italy. Until 30 years ago there was the Scuola del libro in Urbino, but now it is disused.
In 2005 I met an important bookbinder, he was very impressed by my work. So he asked me to do a personal exhibition in Paris, which is the “capital" of fine bookbinding all over the world. I said yes and began my climb of the Eiffel tower!
Luigi Castiglioni
Bookbinder
Rimini, Italy
Recommended by Fondazione Cologni Dei Mestieri D'Arte
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+39 541730814
LANGUAGES
Italian, French, English
