Illuminations

Patricia Mouraud <patricia.mouraud [at] ara__archief__nl> writes

>I'm working on an manuscript with 6 illuminations (15th century) and
>I looking for a material to protect them which can not damage them
>mechanically and chemically ...

The short answer (assuming that the mss is on paper and not
parchment) is paste a sheet of strong paper on either side of the
leaf being treated and split the leaf.  Insert a thin sheet of rag
paper and glue them together with gelatin.

Then dissolve the paste (including the paste used to adhere the
silk) with n-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone to remove the silk and strong
papers from either side.

But don't try this at home....

Seriously, this is a major project which should only be done by a
person who has experience with the problem and who can evaluate the
reason(s) which caused someone to silk the mss.

Jack
Thompson Conservation Lab.
7549 N. Fenwick
Portland, Oregon USA
503-735-3942 (phone/fax)


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:71
                  Distributed: Friday, April 19, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-71-001
                                  ***