Lecture: ‘Conservation of recycled bindings and fragmentology’ (Parts 1 & 2), SICP Chile

Conference: “Seminario Internacional de Conservación de Papel”, 6^th edition.
(International Conference of Paper Conservation)
Organized by: SICP Chile
Venue: Online from Santiago (Chile). Free entrance.
Programme: Programme (in Spanish).
Dates: October 18 to 2oth, 2021 (this lecture is given the 19th).
Language: Spanish.
Lecture: Conservation of reused bindings.
Abstract:
Book conservation involves complex decision making regarding usability and long term preservation. A book is meant to be handled in order to read it, and yet we might want to keep old repairs, no matter how non-effective they might be.These ethical considerations become even more complex when re-used materials are part of the binding, either because the covers are a document their selves (for instance, a manuscript, a most common case also known as “disjecta membra”) or also when the binding is a recycled one, a palimpsest binding. The adjustments made by the craftsmen in the rebinding process should be kept as an evidence of this historical fact, and yet we might be interested in keeping other data from the firstly used materials. At the same time, preservation commands to take decisions in order to stabilize the object.
The lecture focuses on several case studies (incunabula and manuscripts with limp vellum bindings and rolled sewing on parchment vellum bindings) showing that decision making can only be a custom-made for each particular book.
Acknowledgement for their permission to share the images of their books: Public Library Carles Rahola, Regional Archive of Urgell (Tàrrega), Historical Archive of Lleida, Regional Archive of Vallès Occidental (Terrassa), National Archive of Catalonia (Government of Catalonia).
Other links:
- Case study 2️⃣: Conservation of manuscript with rolled sewing and membra disjecta (Lleida)
- Case study 3️⃣: Conservation of a reused lace-cased vellum binding (Terrassa)
- Case study 5️⃣: Conservation of manuscript with recycled wallet binding (Guimerà)
- Video: Lecture Conservation of reused bindings (part one), English version (with subtitles).
- Video: Lecture Conservation of reused bindings (part two), English version (with subtitles).
- YouTube: Here you have the lecture in hig definition (HD) and standard (SD), and episodes so that ypu can easily access the content you search for (YouTube’s settings). Same video below.
- Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVAMMgTorDE/

00:00 – Introduction
- 00:28 – A) What is re-use with diverse purpose (disjecta membra)
- 01:23 – B) What is reuse with diverse purpose
01:44 – A) Recycling with diverse purpose (disjecta membra)
- 02:04 – a1) 1️⃣ Parchment manuscript used as a binding for an incunabula (Girona).
- 06:12 – a2) 2️⃣ Parchment manuscript used as limp binding with rolled sewing (Lleida).
- 10:17 – 1️⃣ vs 2️⃣. Are old repairs and re-used materials compatible with conservation requirements and to what extent their removal involves loss of readability?
- 11:20 Decision making for disjecta membra materials (A).
12:11 – B) Reuse with same puprpose (binding)
- 12:49 – b1) 3️⃣Manuscript with lace-cased binding (Terrassa).
- 18:03 – b2) 4️⃣Manuscript with vellum binding (Girona).
- 26:07 – b3) 5️⃣Manuscript with wallet binding (Guimerà).
- 39:25 – Decision making for recycled bindings (B).
41:38 – Conclusion
43:58 – Acknowledgement

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Lecture: ‘Conservation of recycled bindings and fragmentology’ (Parts 1 & 2), SICP Chile

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