Patricia Engel: The Rotelbooks of Kremsmünster

The so-called „Rotel” [1] books of Kremsmünster date from the 16th century on and were designed to record the passing away of the monks there. The books insured praying for the dead and were a sort of dissemination tool of that time.

The elaborate paintings on parchment are characteristic, and tell their own history; so does the book-binding technique. Kremsmünster Monastery, the second oldest monastery in today´s Austria, holds a body of books of this type, of which one was recently restored by the present author. In the context of restoration the specific binding technique was studied and compared with similar bookbinding techniques.

The paper will introduce the roll-books as a specific type of book, show the Kremsmünster Roll-book collection and the precious full page parchment paintings, the binding and leather covers and explain what was done for conservation and restoration respectively.

The specific structure was a special challenge to the conservator, and it also might inspire in regard to binding in the course of care and conservation of unbound manuscripts, which need protection, in general, thus the contribution might be helpful beyond the immediate conservation of this very type of book.

Note [1] The term rotel is derived from the Latin rotullus: roll, indicating the shape of these books.

[1] rotel is derived from the Latin rotullus: roll, indicating the shape of these books.