Framing medieval manuscripts

This request came to the calligraphy mailing list of whom I am a
member.  I would be most appreciative if you could help her out.  If
you feel your replies would be of interest to the whole list, I can
forward them to her--she is not a member and so would not see them
here.  I have her permission to forward this message.

    Dear Cyberscribes

    I have indulged myself, and spent lots of money in the process,
    by purchasing a single page from a 15th century manuscript. It
    is just beautiful and I am so pleased with it.

    I want to frame it in the best possible way (archivally safe),
    and therein lies the problem. Our climate here is particularly
    harsh--hot and humid, and we also have lots of little insect
    pests that feed on anything they can get access to.

    I have spoken to local conservators, and I know the ideal way to
    preserve my page is to wrap it in acid free tissue, and store
    it, well-wrapped, in the dark in an air-conditioned room.
    However I don't want to go these lengths. I bought the page so I
    could enjoy looking at it, and I want to have it on show.

    I want to frame it so that both sides of the page are visible. I
    know I could get it framed with matt board and glass on both
    sides, but this would mean the edges of the page would be
    hidden. I would ideally like to have all edges of the page
    showing, and I know it's not good to have the glass touching the
    vellum directly. The only way I can think to frame it would be
    to have small spacers on the corners of the page to keep the
    glass away, but I think this would probably look ugly.

    Has anyone got any wonderful suggestions, keeping in mind the
    insect/humidity problems?

    Thanks in advance

    Tricia Smout
    Brisbane Australia
    s336852 [at] student__uq__edu__au

Anne T. Lane
Curatorial Assistant
Museum of York County
4621 Mount Gallant Road
Rock Hill, SC 29715
803-329-2121, ext 104

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:59
                Distributed: Wednesday, January 20, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-12-59-013
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