Church Treasure Given Shiny New Cover

The Vorau Foundation has a special treasure in its possession: the so-called 'Vorauer Evangeliar', a magnificent manuscript which is considered to be one of the most valuable possessions of this religious community. The manuscript was first mentioned as belonging to the church in around 1300. The magnificent cover, typical of the way such works were presented in the Middle Ages, is unfortunately no longer in existence. It was probably sold off during the confusion of the 30 year war.

The 700 year old book regains its former glory with a new binding

The artistic colored edge receives a matching frame

The project team at the HTL Steyr College of Metal Design created the new binding over two years under the supervision of Jean Ihmt, jewelry designer and expert for the symbols of Austria as well s Magister Ulrike Stolber-Postelmair

Luckily, a precise description of the binding is contained in the sacristy inventory of 1615. This provided a clue to help the College of Metal Design at the HTL Steyr create a magnificent new cover for this book. The unique project was launched in the academic year 2005/2006 and topped anything this department for "craftworking and metal design " at the HTL Steyr had previously achieved throughout its 112 year history of fulfilling special assignments. The 'Vorauer Evangeliar' was to be given a striking new cover within 2 years. The first part was completed by two graduates of the College for Object Design - Metalworking. Their task was to produce two different designs. A conservative version based on the scarce historical resources available and an interpretation using modern design methods, taking into account the proportions and symbolism of the Middle Ages. Lisa Aigner and Carmen Suchy, both trained goldsmiths and graduates of the first year at the college, undertook this part of the task. Selected students in the final year class of the college were also involved in the project as part of their final year work. Jean Ihmt, a jewelry designer-and-expert in symbols of Austria along with Ulrike Stoiber-Postelmair served as members of the departmental committee and project coordinators. The front of the work is made up of a divided format in the shape of a cross formed from silver profiling. At the center are the symbols of the four evangelists - cut from and set in ivory in relief . Different, colored stones add additional highlights, matching the colors of the hand-painted book. In the corners, raised pyramids support the book when it is opened and protect the richly decorated middle section of the book. The reverse matches the front except for being more modest due to restrictions in the use of metal as a material. All metals used for the book are gilded and there is no silver visible anymore. This guarantees the stability of the material and prevents the parchment and base material of beech wood-reacting with the materials used in the cover. The book was presented to the public for the first time with its impressive new cover on 25th June at the library of the Vorau Foundation.

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