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IDDIS THE NORWEGIAN PRINTING MUSEUM AND THE NORWEGIAN CANNING MUSEUM
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What turns a stack of paper into a book?

Bibliofilia - an exhibition about bookbinding and the love of books

Bibliofilia is an exhibition for everyone who loves books. A passion for books is at the very heart of the exhibition Bibliofilia [from Greek biblion ‘small book’ and philia ‘love’]. What goes through your mind when you hold a book in your hands?

How does a stack of paper become a book?
How is the book constructed?
Is it sewn or glued at the spine?
Is the cover made of cardboard or leather?
Was it crafted by hand or produced by a machine?

Here, it’s not primarily about the content of the book, but rather about the book as an object and a piece of craftsmanship.

The exhibition Bibliofilia offers insight into the art of bookbinding. You’ll discover the history of the craft and even have the chance to try your hand at bookbinding yourself.

And naturally, the exhibition features beautifully bound books. It showcases works from the museum’s own collection, from the Stavanger City Archives, Sølvberget Library, and from local artists.

One of the most spectacular books on display is a German volume from 1674, bound using sheet music on parchment dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have been donated to Stavanger Museum by L. C. Kielland, the man who established the city's first printing house. Another treasure in the exhibition is a stunning Renaissance binding from 1660 in black velvet with silver fittings, which may be one of the earliest examples of professional bookbinding in Stavanger. More contemporary works include two artist’s books by Julia Mordvinova Gilje and design bindings by Ingeir Djuvik.

The bookshelf also has its place in the Bibliofilia exhibition

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” the saying goes. But in Bibliofilia, that’s exactly what we do.

The exhibition Bibliofilia invites you to learn more about the history of bookbinding and the changes the craft has undergone. Through examples of various types of bindings – from artist’s books and deluxe editions from recent years to several-hundred-year-old, truly unique bindings made with 15th-century parchment – the exhibition offers a rich and varied look at the book as an artistic and historical object.

The exhibition is sponsored by Sparebankstiftelsen SR-Bank.
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