fragmentology (membra disjecta)
Disjecta membra and fragmentology are terms applied to waste material (commonly parchment manuscripts or paper documents) that become parts of a binding, or repair supports in documents or parts of a book in their second use.
Find below the portfolio projects related to fragmentology (membra disjecta):
Lecture: ‘Conservation of recycled bindings and fragmentology’ (Parts 1 & 2), SICP Chile
Book conservation involves a tough decision making regarding usability and long term preservation handling. Sometimes we are dealing with fragmentology, or disjecta membra (fragments of written supports are re-used as part of a binding, with a diverse purpose from the first use) whereas in other cases the purpose is the same, and the whole binding is being recycled to bind a different book. Incunabula and manuscripts with laced-case and limp vellum bindings are studied.
Lecture: ‘Conservation of reused bindings’ (Part two), Dubrovnik
Book conservation involves a tough decision making regarding usability and long term preservation handling. Sometimes we are dealing with fragmentology, or disjecta membra (fragments of written supports are re-used as part of a binding, with a diverse purpose from the first use) whereas in other cases the purpose is the same, and the whole binding is being recycled to bind a different book. Incunabula and manuscripts with laced-case and limp vellum bindings are studied.
Lecture: ‘Conservation of re-used bindings’ (part one), Zagreb
Book conservation involves a tough decision making regarding usability and long term preservation handling. Sometimes we are dealing with fragmentology, or disjecta membra (fragments of written supports are re-used as part of a binding, with a diverse purpose from the first use) whereas in other cases the purpose is the same, and the whole binding is being recycled to bind a different book. Incunabula and manuscripts with laced-case and limp vellum bindings with rolled sewing on parchment are studied.
Conservation of long-stitched limp binding with rolled sewing
That's the typical case of waste material (a former parchment manuscript) that was recycled for a new purpose (a binding).
Conservation of recycled limp vellum wallet binding
Conservation of a medieval manuscript on laid paper, bound on limp parchment. The binding is recicled, being a former wallet bindinig with a flap. The turnins of the covers have alum tawed leather tackets. Sewn on the binding.
Conservation of a manuscript with one binding inside the other
It is not uncommon to find waste material as part of a binding (parchment manuscripts, for instance), but quite much rare when the previous and original binding is part of the boards layers of the current recycled binding! The outer and visible binding belonged first to a former book, and the hidden binding, to the current, one... crazy!
Conservation of medieval manuscripts on rag paper with rolled sewing
Conservation of two medieval manuscripts on rag paper and limp vellum binding. The sewing thread is made of rolled parchment, sewn with independent knots onto inner parchment stays. One of them onto outer leather tackets as well.
Conservation of incunabula with fragmentology evidence
Conservation of incunabula books from Public Library Carles Rahola. Some have disjecta membra and a few cases of palimpsest bindings as well.
