Portrait of a tool maker, artist and perfectionist: a visit to Tony's workshop - a photo essay

Abstract

I never had the opportunity to meet Tony Cains, although of course I knew who he was -but who doesn’t?! During 2010-2012, I worked in the National Library of Ireland as a Heritage Council intern. I was working with Matthew Cains. The lab didn’t have a dedicated book conservator at the time so only basic tools were available; as a result, Matthew would ask Tony which of his tools would suit best the purpose of my work, and conveniently borrow them for me. I was being loaned things that were in every book conservator’s studio, such as clips to flatten parchment, tying-up boards, etc., but these tools stood out, because they were all perfect for the task I was doing! In terms of materials, design, manufacture, everything. They were a mixture of tools custommade by Tony, or modified by him, or just bought somewhere, but always perfectly adapted to their purpose. I think you would still struggle to find tools of this quality anywhere, even from the best suppliers. Because of this, I wanted to explore the studio he had set up at home and get the people who knew his work best Matthew Cains and John Gillis, to tell me the stories behind the objects. This selection of Tony’s tools presented here reflects what could have been a motto of “do the job well or not at all”. I’m immensely grateful to Matthew for opening the door of memories and for digging to help us find as many treasures as possible, and to John to whom I had sold the project as in need of a bit of help but who ended up spending hours looking for photographs and writing captions (Figures 1–31). Elodie Lévêque Captions: John Gillis, Matthew Cains and Elodie Lévêque.