Manuscript damaged by water

Chao-Chun Lu <lucc [at] npm__gov__tw> writes

>The paper conservation studio in my museum encounter some
>water-damaged issues, which we would like to ask for help.
>
>Now the object is fragile with dry and brittle condition. It's form
>is similar to palm leaf manuscript. All pages are heavily covered
>with indigo, both sides are covered with inscriptions.
>
>Several pages were stuck in the middle. I believe there has been
>some type of coating layer previously applied on the surface, which
>makes it very difficult to be separated.

Since the object is like palm leaf manuscript I presume that there
is no back in place. If there is no binding, then first of all
remove all the sheets manually by using a blunt scalpel from each
other without the use of any solvent. Place these sheets separately
in blotters, one sheet in one blotter so that these may be
consolidated latter on.

Test for the bleeding of the colours inks for the universal solvent
water and other solvents and solutions. Moisten the sheets with the
solvent or water as selected after testing by using a moist blotter,
and slowly separate the sheets manually from one other.

It is probable that the whole sheet can not be separated as one
piece, but this can then be consolidated, by other techniques.

I will not be able to make any comments on the role indigo would
play, after separation.  During the procedure and one has to carry
out a test for the same to judge its effect

Anand S. Akolkar


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:64
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
                       Message Id: cdl-22-64-006
                                  ***