Arrabessque
Bindery & paper conservation · Helsinki

Studio

Two binders and a very heavy press.

The workshop opened in 2016 in a former electrical repair shop. It has good north light, a floor that has survived worse, and enough bench space for two people to work without apologising to each other.


Ilona Väisänen

Trained in Helsinki and at the Centro del bel libro in Ascona. Handles conservation work, leather, and anything with a date before 1900. Teaches the spring sewing course.

Petteri Haapala

Came from offset printing and never quite left. Runs edition work, boxes, and the guillotine. Keeps the material log and the kettle.


Materials we keep on the shelf

Paper
Zerkall and Hahnemühle mould-made sheets, Japanese tissues from 6 to 40 gsm, buffered board in three thicknesses.
Cloth and leather
Book cloth in about thirty colours, flax and hemp linen, vegetable-tanned goatskin ordered per job.
Adhesives
Wheat starch paste cooked weekly, and a reversible PVA for structural work where paste is too slow.