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© Eva Seminara
© Eva Seminara
© Eva Seminara
© Eva Seminara

Eva Seminara

Eva Seminara Bookbinder
Contact
Italian, English
Hours:
Monday to Friday 09:00 - 12:30/14:30 - 18:00
Phone:
+39 0432508658
© Eva Seminara

A life among books

  • • Legatoria Moderna was founded in 1966 by three women
  • • Eva Seminara has run the workshop since 1999
  • • She loves to train students from several universities

Eva Seminara has spent her whole life among books. When she was younger, she worked in a small publishing house in Udine, north-eastern Italy, which specialised in publications about the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, its history and territory. But when she was 38 years old the publishing house went under and she had to reinvent herself completely. She loved books, so in 1999 she decided to take over Legatoria Moderna, a bookbinding workshop that had existed since 1966. She began this journey with an older colleague who already had bookbinding skills; from her Eva learned about the restoration of books and artistic bookbinding. During the eight years before her colleague retired, Eva learned how to bind books, using excellent quality raw materials such as paper, leather, wood and canvas. Today she focuses on the restoration of ancient books and custom items. She also runs custom workshops for those looking to discover the art of bookbinding, by appointment only.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Eva Seminara
  • © Eva Seminara
  • © Eva Seminara
  • © Eva Seminara
  • © Eva Seminara
Photo: © Eva Seminara
Once upon a time, at night, in the woods

The cover of this photo album, made from black cardboard and fitted with various types of leather and tree bark, was inspired by the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe (from Ovid’s Metamorphoses). More specifically it refers to the episode in which Thisbe was supposed to secretly meet her lover in the woods at night. The profile of the lioness, carved into leather, suggests the tragic ending of the story: the protagonists will die just like Romeo and Juliet.

Length 37 cm
Width 6 cm
Height 30 cm

Photo: © Eva Seminara
Miki collection

This leather bound collection is composed of a series of diaries covered with full grain cowhide, with a double elastic closure. The type of binding is mediaeval with a gold engraving on the flap in the pattern of a triple knot. This is a variant of Solomon's knot, present in the floor mosaic of the Basilica of Aquileia, which symbolically represents a union, an encounter.

Height 13 cm
Width 9 cm

Photo: © Eva Seminara
Impunture collection

This collection of paper and cardboard diaries was born out of a desire to add elegant, unique details to the covers of books bound with fine printed paper. A small touch that becomes essential and enriches each volume. The printed paper of the cover reproduces the ginkgo biloba leaves. The ginkgo is an ancient tree whose origins date back 250 million years; for this reason it is considered a living fossil.

Height 29.7 cm
Width 21 cm

Photo: © Eva Seminara
The Hidden Splendour

The idea for the cover of this diary comes from the bauta, a typical Venetian mask which originated between the 15th and 16th centuries and which guaranteed total anonymity to the person who wore it. Its shape deformed the voice and allowed the wearer to eat and drink without taking it off. The bauta, together with the cloak and the tricorno (hat), hid the secrets and the wonders that were the soul of the Serenissima. This book cover is made from thermoplastic resin, wood, cardboard, paper, string, black velvet and gold paint.

Length 15 cm
Width 15
Height 24 cm

Photo: © Eva Seminara
Book-Casket

Projects often arise from the needs of customers, who want something truly special. This was the case for Book-Casket, a small book made from paper and cardboard, with many pages to write on, which also has a space to keep a piece of jewellery or a particular memento. This piece features a pattern especially requested by the client.

Length 15 cm
Width 15 cm
Height 3 cm

Enjoy an experience with Eva Seminara

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