Sandra Merten
Bookbinder
Gottlieben, Switzerland
Books bound by time
- Sandra specialises in classical and modern binding techniques
- Her academic training allows her to apply traditional techniques to contemporary work
- She designs and creates custom-made boxes and enclosures for handbound books
Born in Germany, Sandra Merten studied bookbinding in Sweden, graduating from Leksand’s Folkhögskola. Further training in papermaking, marbling and paste paper decoration led Sandra to travel from Hamburg to Ascona, settling in Switzerland to dedicate herself to bookbinding. "Books need time under pressure, adhesives need time to cure and quality cannot be rushed,” she says. "I appreciate the slow rhythm to my craft as it encourages patience and careful attention to detail." As part of Homo Faber Fellowship, Sandra shared her wealth of knowledge with her fellow. She demonstrated how conservation, restoration and classical bookbinding techniques can be applied to contemporary work and to creating boxes and enclosures that protect books against the tests of time.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
I value the diversity of bookbinding and the unique challenges each project presents. Every book, every object and every client require a different, personalised approach. I enjoy adapting my skills to meet those individual needs.
Halfway through my first year of bookbinding school, I realised that I wanted to be a bookbinder for the rest of my life. I knew that I had found the craft I wanted to dedicate my life to.
Most people do not realise that paper has a grain direction. It is one of the first things bookbinders learn, yet it is less known to the general public. Grain direction plays a crucial role in the quality of a book and serves as an important starting point.
People often ask whether bookbinding is a dying profession. My answer is always the same: as long as there are books, there will be bookbinders. The craft will evolve, and we need to be creative, but I am confident that the need for skilled hands and knowledge will remain.
Sandra Merten
Bookbinder
Gottlieben, Switzerland
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+41 716692847
LANGUAGES
German, English, Swedish
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