Subject: Buddhist manuscript book
I am currently doing some work at the National Archives of Nepal in Kathmandu, and the conservation scientist and myself have been asked to treat a Buddhist manuscript book. The book is made up of loose leaves kept between boards, and is written in gold and silver coloured ink on blue-black paper. The paper is 4 layers thick, with the outer layers dyed dark blue-black. The central text area is coated a glossy black. It looks like a traditional mss, but observation shows that the paper is machine rather than hand made and the ink is not real gold and silver; it was likely made sometime round the mid 20th C. I would like some information on two areas: 1. Exactly how this type of paper was traditionally made. So far I have two slightly conflicting written sources. Jasper Trier. Ancient Paper of Nepal Jutland Archaeology Society Publications, Vol X, 1972 says that the dye came from an extract of the Areka palm, and then a lacquer or glaze (but of what?) for the text areas. CL Gajurel and KK Vaidya. Traditional Arts and Crafts of Nepal Schand and Co. Ltd, New Delhi, 1984/1994 give wax, lamp-black, and arsenic sulphide (as an insecticide) to coat the text areas and suggest copper sulphate (which is completely the wrong kind of blue and generally seems very unlikely) as the blue dye. Any offers? 2. Has anyone any advice on treating the pages? There is very extensive insect damage, which has made some of the sheets resemble doilies. The plan is to repair a few of the pages that are more intact (although I have pleaded for it to be allowed to rest in peace). The black coating and inks are slightly water sensitive; they will move if rubbed when wet. The pages are fairly stiff and thick. Becky Cameron Paper Conservator *** Conservation DistList Instance 14:49 Distributed: Friday, March 23, 2001 Message Id: cdl-14-49-023 ***Received on Tuesday, 13 March, 2001