In 1782, with the dissolution of the monasteries, a significant collection of medieval manuscripts from the Upper Styrian monastery of Seckau came into the possession of the University Library Graz. Among the manuscripts from the 12th and 13th centuries are numerous examples featuring remarkable silk stitching patterns – intricate needlework used to mend tears, close holes, or join parchment pages.

These seams – ranging from simple utilitarian repairs to decorative complexity – form the focus of the project »Stitching the Centuries«. Inspired by this centuries-old craft, ten designers explore ways of translating the historical techniques into contemporary design – bringing the idea of repair and preservation into the present day.

Traces of the Past – New Perspectives

The manuscripts originally come from the former collegiate foundation for canons and canonesses in Seckau, which was founded in the 12th century by Adalram von Waldeck-Feistritz and his wife Richiza von Perg. However, some of the books cannot be definitively traced back to Seckau – liturgical and textual evidence suggests they were imported, often private prayer books brought by canonesses from other regions.

The elaborate stitching techniques have so far received little scholarly attention. Initial findings suggest that they may be part of a phenomenon linked to ecclesiastical reform movements, and possibly even an aesthetic “fashion” of the time. The silk threads used show no connection to the liturgical colour canon but appear to have been creatively repurposed from leftover materials in monastic workshops.

Exhibition as part of Design Month Graz

The exhibition Stitching the Centuries, part of Design Month Graz, presents the resulting design prototypes. It not only opens up new approaches to medieval book culture but also reveals how meticulous craftsmanship and creative interpretation can be meaningfully connected across centuries.