Reconstituted Parchment: Its Physical Properties and Suitability as a Repair Material for Parchment Bindings
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Mariko Watanabe
Mariko Watanabe (E-mail:ondansonra.onbir@gmail.com ) obtained an MA degree in Conservation Studies at West Dean College, UK, in 2013. After graduating from the college, she joined the Q Art Conservation in Singapore as a starting member, and since then she has worked as a book and paper conservator. In 2015, she completed a two-month course in the preservation and conservation of photographic materials at the Centre for Photographic Conservation in London.
Abstract
In this study, the suitability of reconstituted parchment as a repair material for three-dimensional and movable parts of books, such as joints and the spine, was assessed. Reconstituted parchment sheets were produced with the “dry method” following five recipes: Budapest, Giovannini’s, Forstmeyer’s, Wouters’ and a new recipe. Tensile and lap-shear resistances were tested. Half the samples for the tensile and the lap-shear tests were folded 1, 000 times to model the mechanical stress. As the result of the tests, Forstmeyer’s reconstituted parchment was applied with 3 % (w/v) gelatin mousse to repair damaged spines of parchment book models.
Zusammenfassung
Rekonstituiertes Pergament als Ergänzungsmaterial für Pergamenteinbände
Die Anwendbarkeit von rekonstituiertem Pergament als Ergänzungsmaterial für dreidimensionale und bewegliche Teile an Büchern, wie zum Beispiel vom Falz und vom Rücken, wurde bewertet. Blätter aus rekonstituiertem Pergament wurden gemäß der „trockenen Methode“ nach fünf Rezepten hergestellt: Budapest, Giovannini, Forstmeyer, Wouters und ein neues Rezept. Die Zugfestigkeit und die Zugscherfestigkeit wurden getestet. Die Hälfte der Proben für die Zugfestigkeit und für die Zugscherfestigkeit wurde 1000mal gefaltet, um das Äquivalent zu 100 Jahren mechanischer Belastung darzustellen. Als Ergebnis der Tests wurde das rekonstituierte Pergament nach Forstmeyer mit einem 3 % (w/v) Gelatine-Mousse zur Ergänzung von beschädigten Rücken von Modellpergamentbänden eingesetzt.
Résumé
Le parchemin reconstitué: ses propriétés physiques et son caractère approprié en tant que matériau de réparation pour les reliures en parchemin
Dans cette étude, nous avons évalué le caractère approprié du parchemin reconstitué comme matériau de réparation pour les parties en trois dimensions et amovibles de livres telles que les charnières et les tranches. Des feuilles de parchemin reconstitué ont été produites avec la méthode dite sèche selon cinq recettes: celle de Budapest, celle de Giovannini, celle de Forstmeyer, celle de Wouters et selon une nouvelle recette. Les résistances à l´étirement et au cisaillement ont été testées. La moitié des échantillons a subi des tests de résistance à l´étirement et au cisaillement et a été plié 1000 fois pour reproduire la tension mécanique. En résultat à ces tests, le parchemin de Forstmeyer a été appliqué avec une mousse de gélatine à 3 % pour réparer des tranches endommagées de modèles de livres en parchemin.
About the author
Mariko Watanabe (E-mail: ondansonra.onbir@gmail.com) obtained an MA degree in Conservation Studies at West Dean College, UK, in 2013. After graduating from the college, she joined the Q Art Conservation in Singapore as a starting member, and since then she has worked as a book and paper conservator. In 2015, she completed a two-month course in the preservation and conservation of photographic materials at the Centre for Photographic Conservation in London.
Acknowledgements
I am most grateful to Andrea Pataki-Hundt for encouraging me to publish my MA thesis and Robien van Gulik and her colleagues at the Teylers Museum in the Netherlands for sharing with me the idea of applying reconstituted parchment.
I also thank Sonja Schwoll, David Dorning, Lorna Calcutt, Norman Billingham, Mariluz Beltran de Guevara, Yvette Fletcher, Lara Meredith, Karen Vidler and Lieve Watteeuw for their valuable comments, advice and encouragement.
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Materials and Equipment
| For reconstituted parchment | Supplier |
|---|---|
| Blender | Designer Habitat, Salford, UK. |
| Bondina® | Conservation by Design Ltd., Bedford, UK. |
| Culminal® MC2000 | Conservation by Design Ltd., Bedford, UK. |
| Ethanol | SIGMA-ALDRICH, Co., St. Louise, MO USA |
| Hide powder | Leather Technology Centre, Northampton, UK. |
| IMS | South Western Industrial Plasters, Wilts, UK. |
| Isopropanol | Scientific & Chemical Supplies Ltd., West Midland, UK. |
| Japanese paper (K36, K37, K38 and K148) | Conservation by Design Ltd., Bedford, UK. |
| Klucel G | Preservation Solutions, Chicago, USA. |
| Melinex® | Conservation by Design Ltd., Bedford, UK. |
| Moulin du Verger | Atlantis Fine Art and Archival Suppliers, London, UK. |
| Suction table | Willard Conservation Ltd., Chichester, UK |
| For book models | Supplier |
| Barbour’s Linen Thread | Lisburn, Nothern Ireland. |
| Gelatin from bovine skin, Type B | SIGMA-ALDRICH, Co., St. Louise, MO USA |
| Hahnemuhle paper | John Purcell Paper, London, UK |
| Wheat starch paste | VWR International, Lutterworth, UK. |
| For experiments | Supplier |
| Stress/Strain Apparatus AP-8214A | Pasco, Roseville, CA USA |
| TinyTag | Gemini Data Loggers Ltd., Chichester, UK |
© 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- The Potential of International Cooperation in the Digitization of Chinese Ancient Books
- Reconstituted Parchment: Its Physical Properties and Suitability as a Repair Material for Parchment Bindings
- Entomological and Thermo-Hygrometric Monitoring at the Angelica Library in Rome (Italy)
- Transparent Drawing Supports and Media Applied On It: Chemical Characterisation and Conservation Problems in Spanish Art Deco Jewellery Design
- Peacock Ink: Investigation into the Constituents of the Most Prized Ink of Persia
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- The Potential of International Cooperation in the Digitization of Chinese Ancient Books
- Reconstituted Parchment: Its Physical Properties and Suitability as a Repair Material for Parchment Bindings
- Entomological and Thermo-Hygrometric Monitoring at the Angelica Library in Rome (Italy)
- Transparent Drawing Supports and Media Applied On It: Chemical Characterisation and Conservation Problems in Spanish Art Deco Jewellery Design
- Peacock Ink: Investigation into the Constituents of the Most Prized Ink of Persia
