Blog Archives

Workshop “Wet treatments of
Works on Paper” (Amsterdam)

Fugitivity test on paper conservation

Theoretical and practical sessions. When to apply wet treatments on paper, and how. From the basis of handling wet paper to more complex moisturizing, humidification and washing techniques. Fugitivity tests, types of inks and their properties, and many case studies to show conservation treatments on real artwork: manuscripts and documents, drawings, watercolours, pastels, charcoal drawings…  Continue reading →

Workshop “Wet treatments
of Works on Paper” (Germany)

Fugitivity test on paper conservation

Theoretical and practical sessions. When to apply wet treatments on paper, and how. From the basis of handling wet paper to more complex moisturizing, humidification and washing techniques. Fugitivity tests, types of inks and their properties, and many case studies to show conservation treatments on real artwork: manuscripts and documents, drawings, watercolours, pastels, charcoal drawings…  Continue reading →

Conservation of reused bindings (Part two)

meetings of conservators and restorers of archival and library materials and art on paper

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. Continue reading →

Conservation of re-used bindings (Part one)

Conservation of book with another binding inside the binding's covers

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. Continue reading →

Video about the profession of book and paper conservator

conservation of alum tawed leather button of a flap of a limp vellum binding

What does a paper conservator do? Whom does she work for? What skills and knowledge does she ought to have?
Preservation and conservation, a field linked to science, history and arts and crafts. A video explains what differenciates us from forgers and shows -among other- how we produce a hand-made suction table to restore paper artifacts, with loads of creativity, a feature most necessary to become book and paper conservator. Continue reading →

Conservation of a manuscript with one binding inside the other

Conservation of book with another binding inside the binding's covers

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! Continue reading →

Impregnated tracing paper with tapes and ball-point pen inscriptions

Owner: Association of Architects of Catalonia (CoAC). Commissioned by:  Sitges Museums (Sitges, Spain). Object: Impregnated tracing paper architectural drawing. Author: Lluís Domènech i Montaner, catalan architect (1850-1923). Damages: Yellowing, fragmented artwork, wrinkles, tears, pressure sensitive tapes (several types), ball-point pen inscriptions. Conservation treatment: Varnish … Continue reading →