Characterisation of Drawing Papers for Borko Lazeski’s Cartoons (1951–56)
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Maja Kostadinovska
Maja Kostadinovska , Dipl. -Ing., has a Core Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry with a professional orientation in Analytical Biochemistry received in 2007 at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. She currently works as a Conservator on chemical analyses related to conservation research in the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory at the National Library in Skopje. She has research interests in the investigation of ancient artefacts and other works of art made of paper, but also in the analysis of inks and pigments on Rare Books and Manuscripts. On these and other topics of Natural Sciences and Humanities, she disseminates scientific knowledge by a number of presentations and publications, and participated in a couple of conferences as a member of the Scientific Committees.
Abstract
This paper presents a study of the drawing papers from Borko Lazeski’s cartoons for a mural painting. The collection is comprised of more than 20 single pieces (170×500 cm) executed in charcoal, pencil, pastel, tempera and ink. The cartoons exhibit different types of damages, such as grease stains, moisture stains, cracks, flaking paint, areas of loss caused by insects and mould stains. The study included spot tests, ATR-FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy to characterise the artist’s papers. They were found to be a type of paper composed of partly bleached, neutral sulphite semi-chemical (NSSC) wood pulp originating from coniferous trees (softwood) with the occasional use of abaca fibres. The laboratory tests revealed slightly acidic conditions (pH=5.01–6.52), high lignin content (>5 %) and alum-rosin sizing. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed all findings of the spot tests. Micro-Raman spectroscopy showed the presence of gypsum in the papers. The study addresses conservation issues arising from the chemical nature of the paper support and highlights the need for an extended study in order to be able to make informed treatment choices.
Zusammenfassung
Charakterisierung der Zeichenpapiere für Borko Lazeskis Kartons (1951–56)
Dieser Beitrag präsentiert eine Studie der Zeichenpapiere von Borko Lazeskis Kartons für ein Wandgemälde. Die Sammlung besteht aus mehr als 20 Einzelwerken (170×500 cm), die in Kohle, Bleistift, Pastell, Tempera und Tinte ausgeführt wurden. Die Kartons weisen verschiedene Schäden auf, unter anderem Fett- und Wasserflecken, Risse, abblätternde Malschichten und Fehlstellen, die durch Insektenfraß und Schimmelbefall hervorgerufen wurden. Die Studie beinhaltet mikrochemische Tests, ATR-FTIR und µ-Ramanspektroskopie, um das verwendete Papier zu charakterisieren. Es handelt sich dabei um einen Papiertyp, der aus partiell gebleichtem, neutralem Sulfitzellstoff (NSSC, neutral sulphite semi-chemical) von Nadelhölzern besteht, der teilweise mit Abacafasern gemischt wurde. In den Untersuchungen konnte festgestellt werden, dass es sich um leicht saures Papier handelt (pH = 5,01—6,52), das einen deutlichen Ligninanteil von mehr als 5 % aufweist und mit Harzalaun geleimt wurde. Diese Ergebnisse der mikrochemischen Tests wurden durch Infrarotspektroskopie bestätigt. Die µ-Ramanspektroskopie konnte die Anwesenheit von Gips in den Kartons feststellen. Diese Studie beschäftigt sich mit konservatorischen Fragestellungen im Zusammenhang mit den chemischen Eigenschaften der Papiere und unterstreicht den Bedarf einer ausführlichen Untersuchung, um gute Behandlungsentscheidungen zu treffen.
Résumé
La caractérisation des papiers à dessin des cartons de Borko Lazeski (1951–56)
Cet article présente l’étude des papiers à dessin des cartons de Borko Lazeski pour une peinture murale. La collection comprend plus de 20 oeuvres (de 170 par 500 cm) exécutées au fusain, crayon, pastel, à la tempera et à l’encre. Les cartons présentent différents types de dégâts tels que des tâches de gras, des auréoles d’humidité, des déchirures, une couche picturale avec des pertes de matière, des zones de trous causés par des insectes et des tâches de moisisssures.
L’étude a consisté en des spots tests, des examens au spectroscope infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (FTIR) et en des tests en microspectroscopie Raman pour caractériser les papiers de l’artiste. Nous avons déterminé un seul type de papier composé d’une pulpe bois partiellement blanchie, neutre sulphite et semi-chimique (NSSC), pulpe provenant de conifères (bois tendre) avec occasionnellement ajout de fibres d’abaca. Les tests en laboratoire ont révélé un état légèrement acide (5,01 < pH <6,52), un fort contenu en lignine (>5 %) et un encollage à l’alun-colophane. La spectroscopie infrarouge a confirmé tous les résultats des spots tests. La microspectroscopie Raman a révélé la présence de gypse dans les papiers. L’étude se concentre sur les problèmes de restauration résultant de la nature chimique du support papier et souligne le besoin d’une étude plus approfondie afin de pouvoir déterminer des choix de traitements éclairés.
About the author
Maja Kostadinovska, Dipl. -Ing., has a Core Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry with a professional orientation in Analytical Biochemistry received in 2007 at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. She currently works as a Conservator on chemical analyses related to conservation research in the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory at the National Library in Skopje. She has research interests in the investigation of ancient artefacts and other works of art made of paper, but also in the analysis of inks and pigments on Rare Books and Manuscripts. On these and other topics of Natural Sciences and Humanities, she disseminates scientific knowledge by a number of presentations and publications, and participated in a couple of conferences as a member of the Scientific Committees.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Lazo Plavevski affiliated to the Museum of the City of Skopje for providing items of the respective collection. The help of Prof. Orhideja Grupče at the Institute of Chemistry for providing corresponding equipment for spectroscopy is gratefully acknowledged.
Any other administrative, technical or material support, funding or supervision is herewith disclosed.
Appendix: Peak positionsa & FWHM valuesb for control samples, drawing papers and pulp samples. Related bands to cellulose fibres, sizing and fillers are assigned.
| Fibres | Cotton | Copy/Printing paper | Recycled paper | Drawing paper | Pulp from drawing paper* | Sizing/Fillers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellulose | 3338 | 0.0740 | 3331 | 0.1067 | 3337 | 0.0601 | 3335 | 0.0809 | 3338 | 0.1281 | ||||
| 3294 | 0.0732 | 3299 | 0.0581 | 3284 | 0.0789 | 3294 | 0.1243 | |||||||
| Waxes | 2899 | 0.0390 | 2898 | 0.0484 | 2914 | 0.0292 | 2903 | 0.0427 | 2898 | 0.0616 | ||||
| 1750 | 0.0157 | 1745 | 0.0217 | |||||||||||
| 1716 | 0.0284 | Rosin | ||||||||||||
| 1737 | 0.0244 | 1735 | 0.0163 | 1734 | 0.0237 | 1737 | 0.0222 | |||||||
| 1698 | 0.0294 | |||||||||||||
| 1687 | 0.0250 | 1685 | 0.0209 | 1679 | 0.0343 | |||||||||
| Gelatine | ||||||||||||||
| 1639 | 0.0301 | 1635 | 0.0252 | 1643 | 0.0430 | 1653 | 0.0424 | 1635 | 0.0398 | |||||
| 1607 | 0.0369 | |||||||||||||
| Lignin | 1595 | 0.0435 | 1595 | 0.0350 | ||||||||||
| 1578 | 0.0321 | 1635 | 0.0398 | |||||||||||
| 1521 | 0.0314 | |||||||||||||
| 1512 | 0.0339 | |||||||||||||
| 1506 | 0.0532 | 1505 | 0.0331 | 1508 | 0.0323 | |||||||||
| 1455 | 0.0398 | 1449 | 0.0589 | 1455 | 0.0606 | |||||||||
| 1430 | 0.0490 | 1413 | 0.1751 | 1424 | 0.1053 | 1425 | 0.0673 | 1427 | 0.0708 | Calcium carbonate | ||||
| 1360 | 0.0548 | 1369 | 0.0891 | 1368 | 0.0695 | 1361 | 0.0827 | |||||||
| 1335 | 0.0601 | 1336 | 0.0876 | 1335 | 0.0691 | 1336 | 0.0887 | |||||||
| 1315 | 0.0655 | 1316 | 0.0875 | 1317 | 0.0922 | 1316 | 0.0774 | 1316 | 0.0988 | |||||
| 1280 | 0.0487 | 1278 | 0.0728 | |||||||||||
| Wood pulp marker | 1263 | 0.0773 | 1270 | 0.0644 | ||||||||||
| 1246 | 0.0435 | |||||||||||||
| 1234 | 0.0415 | |||||||||||||
| 1205 | 0.0432 | 1205 | 0.0470 | 1206 | 0.0660 | 1204 | 0.0594 | 1204 | 0.0655 | |||||
| 1160 | 0.0820 | 1161 | 0.0893 | 1160 | 0.1228 | 1160 | 0.1059 | 1160 | 0.1237 | Sulphates or talcum | ||||
| 1110 | 0.1250 | 1105 | 0.1286 | 1105 | 0.1920 | 1105 | 0.1680 | 1105 | 0.1974 | Alum | ||||
| 1053 | 0.1887 | 1052 | 0.2057 | 1051 | 0.3108 | 1052 | 0.2655 | 1052 | 0.3077 | |||||
| 1030 | 0.1955 | 1030 | 0.2252 | 1029 | 0.3614 | 1028 | 0.3000 | 1029 | 0.3306 | |||||
| 1000 | 0.1749 | |||||||||||||
| 984 | 0.1671 | |||||||||||||
| 895 | 0.0706 | 897 | 0.0653 | 901 | 0.1089 | 899 | 0.1005 | 897 | 0.1064 | |||||
| 874 | 0.1599 | 875 | 0.1134 | 875 | 0.0855 | |||||||||
| 814 | 0.0526 | 816 | 0.0521 | 814 | 0.0909 | 811 | 0.0761 | |||||||
| 805 | 0.0912 | |||||||||||||
| 712 | 0.1122 | |||||||||||||
| 662 | 0.1260 | 663 | 0.1257 | 664 | 0.2008 | 662 | 0.1946 | |||||||
a wavenumber [cm−1]
b FWHM values [cm−1]
* Pulp prepared according to TAPPI T 401 (TAPPI T 401 2008; Kostadinovska et al. 2017).
Note: Peak finding threshold = 5 % of visible spectrum ordinate.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Characterisation of Drawing Papers for Borko Lazeski’s Cartoons (1951–56)
- Non-Aqueous Facing Methods in Paper Conservation – Part I: Testing Facing Materials
- Non-aqueous Facing Methods in Paper Conservation – Part II: Application of a Facing on a Seventeenth Century Ink Drawing
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Characterisation of Drawing Papers for Borko Lazeski’s Cartoons (1951–56)
- Non-Aqueous Facing Methods in Paper Conservation – Part I: Testing Facing Materials
- Non-aqueous Facing Methods in Paper Conservation – Part II: Application of a Facing on a Seventeenth Century Ink Drawing
