Maria Ruzaikina

Bookbinder

©Nasti Davydova

©Maria Ruzaikina

Giving old books a new life

Maria is keen on preserving the heritage craft of bookbinding
She specialises in fine leather binding and hand gold finishing
Her work reflects the value of books and the merits of their papers and typographies

Maria Ruzaikina inherited her affinity for books and bookbinding from her family – more specifically from her father, Aleksander Ruzaikin, a recognised bookbinder who taught her the craft. After completing a course in modern fine binding in the UK and taking private lessons from bookbinding experts, Maria opened her workshop in 2017. Her work focuses on fine leather binding, hand gold tooling and traditional edge gilding. "I feel happy to be preserving this heritage craft. I often create a new leather binding from scratch, taking into account the style, era and publication place," she says. Her inspirations include architectural classicism and modernism, contemporary visual arts and decorative antiques. Currently, Maria leads a private practice and works with rare book collectors and dealers.

Interview

©Nasti Davydova

©Nasti Davydova

How do you express tradition and innovation in your work as a bookbinder?: I would rather call myself a conservative when it comes to innovation. I am quite reluctant to experiment with structures and unknown materials, as I see no point in changing something that works so well. Moreover, I have no right to put rare books at risk.
How would you define what you do?: I rebind books that were poorly bound or that have completely lost their covers and spines. My duty is to increase the value of a book by dressing it in a 'bespoke suit' that fits its size, hides its flaws and highlights the merits of its paper and typography.
What advice do you have to people interested in becoming bookbinders?: I appreciate our era for the opportunities it offers. Anyone from anywhere can learn the basics of bookbinding and even start receiving commissions without leaving home. With persistence and consistency, everything will work out.
What does well-made mean to you?: Bookbinding should fulfil its function perfectly. The book must open well and the very touch of leather should give you a pleasant feeling. Only high-quality and sustainable materials must be used. I prefer gilded letters, lines and decorative details.

Maria Ruzaikina is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2002 and she started teaching in 2020