You may known the Concertina folded book form as the Accordion or Zig-Zag. There are different ways of making these books, but all the terms refer to the same basic book form - a folded style with pages stacked alongside or on top of each other that expands and contracts when opened and closed. It’s pretty clear why they're called Accordions or Concertinas, after the musical instrument which similarly expands and contracts in the player’s hands.
But do you know why this popular book form is also known as the Leporello?
That term comes from the tale of the infamous Don Giovanni, particularly Mozart's opera of the same name. Don Giovanni's manservant wasn't shy about keeping his opinions about his master's lifestyle to himself. In fact, he chided Don Giovanni for leading a 'rotten life', full of infidelity and innumerable 'conquests'.
In the Catalogue Aria in Act 1 of Mozart's opera, this manservant compiles a list ("il catalogo") of the thousands of women Don Giovanni has seduced. This list takes up so much space that the manservant, called Leporello, has to write it on a piece of paper folded on itself many times simply to make it a manageable size for him to handle.
Unfurled to great effect in Mozart's opera, 'Leporello's List' has since lent an alternative name to folded books, brochures and other printed matter.
Leporello's List: Marco Vinco in Don Giovanni, San Fransico Opera 2011.
Image Copyright Cory Weaver
Concertina books offer so many possibilities for creative expression. Here are 5 ways that I know my artist customers have used their concertinas:
Folded book forms offer a particularly striking way of combining images and text. Take a look at how photographer Robin Hutt made use of some bespoke concertina books she asked me to make her:
"I love your Accordion Sketchbooks because of their simplicity, the quality of the paper and their understated stylishness.... They are really helping me refine my ideas for this exhibition" - Robin, Sussex
I recently combined a 6-fold leporello format with a simple belly band to make this miniature booklet of journaling prompts. It's designed as a companion to my Mini Journals and includes a QR code that links to a blog post, which details the 10 ideas for mindfulness and creativity in full.
'Unfold Me': this miniature artists book uses the leporello fold to simple but good effect
I make Concertina Sketchbooks for creatives in A6 small and A5 medium portrait size. Each has 12 pages and expands to over 1 metre - but they're still not quite as long as Leporello's List! Nevertheless, I hope you'll find them fun, useful and enjoyable to use.
"I was looking for something unique for my wedding photographs. Two concertina sketchbooks arrived, packaged with great care, they are beautifully made, a joy and will be cherished. So lovely to find boundbyhand. Thank you Susan" - Belinda, Dorset
Click the button below to buy your handmade Concertina Sketchbook - it has cotton rag covers you can title, decorate or leave plain, and 12 heavyweight cartridge paper pages for photos, dry and light wet artwork:
How do you use your folded book? Do you enjoy making artists books, photobooks, travel journals? Let us know in the comments!
Susan the bookbinder
+44 (0)7748 759 371 | contact form | info@boundbyhand.co.uk
Comments will be approved before showing up.
I’m sure you’ve been dismayed to see that many artists, makers and small businesses in the UK won't accept orders after August 29th. I am not one of them. Here's why...
This Cotton Rag Sketchbook was inspired by mourning stationery I saw at a Victorian Gothic event at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum in Bournemouth...
Discover 10 Ways to Use a Mini Journal in your daily life. Practice mindfulness and engage with your creativity with these ideas from artists, poets, writers, business coaches and psychologists.
