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 →
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 →
Assessment on preventive conservation, housing, storage, digitization, exhibition and possibilities of conservation of Swamiji’s manuscripts from Vedanta Academy historical archive. Continue reading →
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 →
Conservation of a manuscript which was a recycled limp vellum binding with flap. The flap and other missing parts are reconstructed after conservation. Continue reading →
Owner: Historical Archive of Lleida (Catalonia), National Archive of Catalonia, Government of Catalonia. Object: Limp vellum binding mansucript. Rolled sewing on parchment. The covers are a re-used manuscript (disjecta membra). “Manual notarial d’Andreu Soler” (notes by notary Andreu Soler). Date: … Continue reading →
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 →
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 →
Owner: Regional Archive of La Segarra (Cervera, Spain), Government of Catalonia. Object: Medieval manuscript on laid paper with limp vellum binding in reverse parchment, with flap and alum tawed leather tackets sealing the turnings. Sewing on two leather tackets. Date: … Continue reading →
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 →
Owner: Regional Archive of Baix Ebre (Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain). Artefact: 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 … Continue reading →
Owner: Regional Archive of Baix Empordà (La Bisbal, Girona, Spain), Government of Catalonia. Object: Two stationery manuscripts on laid paper. They have limp vellum bindings with tacketing onto exterior leather supports (see heading image). Both with flaps, are sewn on … Continue reading →
Owner: Sant Cugat Council (Barcelona, Spain). Object: Preliminary drawing for a tapestry, gouache, charcoal and pastel on impregnated tracing paper. Date: 20th century. Damages: Cockling, big tears, dirt. Conservation treatment: Dry cleaning, consolidation, backing with japanese tissue (washi). Flattening. Conservators: … Continue reading →
Owner: Can Pedrals Library (Granollers, Spain), Diputació de Barcelona. Object: Over 300 parchment manuscripts from different dates. Damages: Folds, wrinkles, cockling, tears, losses, superficial grim and dirt. Conservation treatment: Dry cleaning, flattening, consolidation of weakened areas, housing. Old sewn repairs … Continue reading →
Owner: Association of Architects of Catalonia (CoAC). Commissioned by: ICO Foundation (Madrid, Spain). Object: Tracing paper and onion-skin plans. Proejct of the Montecarlo Palace and desing for Wütrich house in Papagayo (Canary Islands). Author: Fernando Higueras, Spanish architect. Damages: Fragmented … Continue reading →
