Conservazione ed il restauro di calzari pontificali con arabesco (Museo della Spiritualità) presso l’ISCR

Conservazione ed il restauro di calzari pontificali con arabesco, Museo della Spiritualità, Castel Sant'Elia, presso l'Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro (ISCR), Roma

URL

Presentazione:

Questi sandali pontificali fanno parte del significativo insieme di 29 paramenti liturgici, recentemente restaurati presso l’ISCR, provenienti da Castel S.Elia (VT). Rispetto alle altre due paia di calzari appartenenti al medesimo complesso, ed anche in confronto con sandali pontificali esistenti in diverse collezioni europee, questi appaiono singolarmente ben conservati; di particolare pregio sono inoltre la qualità formale e la ricchezza decorativa. La necessità di restaurare questi oggetti ha offerto al Laboratorio manufatti in cuoio l’occasione per affrontare in modo approfondito le problematiche conservative delle calzature.

La fabbricazione è probabilmente avvenuta in una bottega artigiana del XIII secolo dell’Italia meridionale, e precisamente siciliana, attingendo alla tradizione manifatturiera islamica. Tuttavia non sembrano esservi elementi, allo stato attuale delle conoscenze, che consentano di confermare con certezza tale ipotesi. Sebbene nella letteratura esistente vi siano dei riferimenti alla manifattura delle pelli e del cuoio, essi rimandano quasi esclusivamente alla legatura, arte fiorente per diversi secoli a causa dell’importanza attribuita al libro sacro, il Corano. Si ritiene peraltro in linea generale che le tecniche di decorazione del cuoio si siano sviluppate principalmente nel Vicino Oriente, e che la loro diffusione in Occidente si avvenuta soltanto in un momento successivo.

Il sandalo pontificale costituisce una particolare tipologia di calzatura liturgica, utilizzata durante alcune cerimonie religiose, come la messa pontificale. A queste calzature cerimoniali fu attribuito il nome sandalia probabilmente nel IX o X secolo; esse divennero parte distintiva dell’abbigliamento liturgico del vescovo intorno al X secolo. Ne sono giunti fino a noi diversi esempi databili al XII-XIII secolo, accomunati da una foggia particolare che, secondo alcuni, rappresenterebbe un’evoluzione formale della tipologia di calzatura romana detta campagus. Questa era una scarpa aperta assicurata al piede mediante un sistema di lacci e indossata generalmente dall’aristocrazia o dagli ufficiali dell’esercito; tale tipologia si sarebbe modificata nel tempo divenendo una calzatura alta fino alla caviglia.

Si desidera ringraziare la restauratrice Federica Moretti che, oltre ad aver partecipato in fase di restauro alle operazioni di pulitura, consolidamento e correzione delle deformazioni, ha eseguito la documentazione grafica e molte delle immagini fotografiche che documentano l'intervento.

"Investigation of acid-deterioration in leather leading towards finding a suitable product for treatment” by Lama (2011)

Anne Lama, “Investigation of acid-deterioration in leather leading towards finding a suitable product for treatment”, 114th SLTC Conference 2011, University of Northampton, Northampton, 7 May 2011

URL (Video and powerpoint of the presentation)

I Mestieri del Cuoio e della Pelle, il sito web di Vincenzo Caniglia

I Mestieri del Cuoio e della Pelle website, di Vincenzo Caniglia

URL

Presentazione:

La scelta di un nome troppo lungo (imestieridelcuoioedellapelle) più che una scelta è stata una necessità dettata dalla convinzione che le parole cuoio e pelle sono legate al concetto di mestiere. Mestiere è un’arte meccanica, fisica, manuale che si esercita per produrre un manufatto, una merce per ricavarne un profitto; è un esercizio manuale di una attività lavorativa, come detto, frutto di un’esperienza pratica. La parola mestiere evoca il concetto di competenza, di corporazione, di attività professionale.
Mestiere della pelle = trasformare una pelle grezza in una conservata, conciata e in pergamena.
Mestiere del cuoio  = lavorare una pelle conciata per produrre manufatti,  oggetti, merci.
Mestiere della pergamena = trasformare una pelle grezza in pergamena, e poi questa in supporti scrittori, in rilegature, in strumenti musicali (tamburi).

(…)
Seguendo il menu del sito verranno descritti i seguenti argomenti con autori e relative opere.
Il link “curriculum vitae” conterrà anche una breve presentazione del sito. Tre link verranno dedicati ai libri su argomenti conciari. Si inizierà con “I miei libri”; “Gli introvabili” conterranno le riproduzioni delle copertine di opere rare e introvabili nella storia del cuoio. Mentre la sezione “I libri degli altri”, titolo di un libro di Italo Calvino, tratterrà tutti i libri in circolazione.
La sezione dal titolo “I nomi del cuoio” oltre a elencare i nomi del cuoio, della pelle e della pelliccia in parecchie lingue, verrà di seguito completata dalle Etimologie Conciarie, e da uno studio dell’ing. Bernard Sol, conciatore e imprenditore francese. Una sezione è dedicata alle Scuole Conciarie, ai Musei del Cuoio e alle Associazioni. Verrà poi analizzata l’opera dell’astronomo e matematico “Joseph Jerôme La Lande”, autore di ben sei volumi sull’arte di fabbricare il cuoio ed un volume sull’arte di fabbricare la Pergamena. Una parte del sito verrà dedicata ad illustrare l’opera “Das Ständebuch” di Jost Amman e Hans Sachs, con nove xilografie sui mestieri del cuoio e della pergamena. Si illustrerà poi la figura di “Francesco Griselini”, autore del “Dizionario delle arti e de’ mestieri”, dal quale verranno estratte le voci riguarganti i mestieri della pellle e del cuoio. 

Nella sezione intitolata “Iconografia conciaria” verranno riproposte figure che riguardano la storia del cuoio e dell’arte conciaria (dai loghi delle vecchie concerie, ad immagini riguardanti il cuoio, et coetera).
Una sezione è dedicata alla figura e all’opera del “Prof. G.A.Bravo”, esimio studioso del cuoio e dell’arte conciaria, oltre che chimico del cuoio. Nella sezione “Studiosi del cuoio” verranno tracciate brevi biografie di studiosi del cuoio e dell’arte conciaria come Giacinto Baldracco, Vittorio Casaburi, Ettore Andreis, Bice Avenati Bassi, Enrico Simoncini, Rino Airoldi, Anna Maria Nada Petrone, Fernando Zampiva et alii.
La sezione dal nome “Le conce” sarà dedicata alle definizioni delle operazioni conciarie, cioè quelle che trasformano una pelle grezza, conservata in pelle conciata e in cuoio, oltre ad una breve descrizione delle macchine conciarie.
Ed infine la sezione “L’albero dei tannini” tratterà quelle sostanze vegetali concianti, che danno un cuoio morbido e profumato.

 

Recherches sur l'état de l'industrie des cuirs en France pendant le XVIIIe siècle... par Depors (1932)

Depors, H.; Recherches sur l'état de l'industrie des cuirs en France pendant le XVIIIe siècle et le début du XIXe siècle, Paris, 1932

Gallica

Table de matières:

1. La technique et l’approvisionnement de la industrie

2. Le regime administratif

3. La forme de l’industrie

4. Conditions économiques et sociales de la production

5. Le commerce

“Dimensional studies of specific microscopic fibre structures in deteriorated parchment before and during shrinkage” by Mühlen Axelsson et al (2012)

Mühlen Axelsson, K.; Larsen, R.;  Sommer, D. V. P.; “Dimensional studies of specific microscopic fibre structures in deteriorated parchment before and during shrinkage”, Journal of Cultural Heritage 13(2) (2012) 128–136

DOI:10.1016/j.culher.2011.08.001 (restricted access)

Abstract:

This paper reports the first systematic study of the dimensions of morphological changed microscopic collagen fibres in historical and new reference parchments with the aim to improve the knowledge on deterioration and the diagnosis of their damage in connection with conservation activities. The dimensions of fibres from the parchments were measured before and during shrinkage, with special emphasis on fibres with degradation characteristics designated as “pearls on a string” and “butterflies”. In addition, measurements of the total shrinkage of the length of fibres and pieces of parchment were also carried out. The observations support the assumption that in vivo transformation of the fibre structure by natural ageing is similar to that taking place when heating parchment and fibres in water. Based on statistical cluster analysis, four subpopulations of pearls representing different stages of deterioration are found. Moreover, the dimensional changes in the specific structures observed at room temperature can be related to specific temperatures in the interval of shrinkage suggesting that the hydrothermal stability of the fibres may be predicted on the basis of the ratio between length and width of the so-called pearls (Pl/Pw). The total shrinkage measured is drastic, in average around 56% for fibres and 43 to 48% for pieces of parchment depending on the direction of the skin. The total shrinkage of fibres corresponds to a mean change in the ratio Pl/Pw from around 10 to around 2.3. Finally, relations between the measured dimensions at the microscopic level with those of collagen at nanoscopic and molecular levels including known and potential chemical splitting points strongly indicate that the formation of the butterfly-like fragments formed by cleavage of two adjacent pearls in the fibre can be ascribed to chemical modification of specific tripeptides in the collagen molecule.

Pair of gloves, ca.1600, The MET Museum of Art

 

Pair of gloves [English] (28.220.7,.8)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/28.220.7,.8 (October 2010)

Le bon métier des tanneurs de l'ancienne cité de Liège par Bormans (1863)

Bormans, Stanislas; Le bon métier des Tanneurs de l'ancienne cité de Liège, Carmanne,  Liège, 1863

InternetArchive

Table des matières:

I. Des officiers et des employés

II. Des compagnons

III. De la possession du Métier

IV. Des marchandises

V. Des propriétés de la corporation

VI. Des marques distinctives du Métier

VII. Des archives

"L’industrie du cuir en Bretagne à la fin de l’Ancien Régime d’après l’enquête Necker de 1778" par Derrien (2007)

Derrien, Dominique; “L’oeil sur la lunette: L’industrie du cuir en Bretagne à la fin de l’Ancien Régime d’après l’enquête Necker de 1778”, Annales de Bretagne et des Pays de l’Ouest 114(1) (2007) 131-153

URL / PDF

Resumé:

La fabrication du cuir est une industrie ancienne, implantée dans les régions périphériques de la France, sur les frontières terrestres et maritimes du pays, notamment en Bretagne où elle connaît, durant l’époque moderne, un développement important. Les cuirs produits s’insèrent dans les courants d’échanges atlantiques et se négocient surtout à Bilbao, Lisbonne et les possessions coloniales portugaises. L’enquête ordonnée en 1778 par Jacques Necker, et réalisée par les inspecteurs des manufactures de Rennes et de Morlaix, montre une industrie encore florissante à la veille de la Révolution.

Abstract:

Leather manufacturing appears as an old industry, mainly established in peripheral regions of France, along borders and seashores, as in the case of Brittany where it particularly expanded during the modern era. Breton made leather were sent all around the Atlantic ocean. They were then most of the time sold in Bilbao, Lisbon and as far as Portuguese colonies. The inquiry ordered in 1778 by Jacques Necker, and realized by the inspectors of manufactures of Rennes and Morlaix, shows an industry which is still flourishing before the French Revolution.

Fur coat, Revillon Frèrès, c.1920, The MET Museum of Art

"La industria del libro manuscrito en Castilla: fabricantes y vendedores de pergamino (ss.XII-XV)" por Rodríguez Díaz (2001)

Rodríguez Díaz, E. E.; “La industria del libro manuscrito en Castilla: fabricantes y vendedores de pergamino (ss.XII-XV)”, Historia, instituciones, documentos 28 (2001) 313-351

PDF

Resumen:

El estudio de los artesanos del libro es uno de los aspectos del estudio del comercerio librario medieval. En este artículo analizamos el trabajo de los fabricantes y vendedores de pergamineros en Castilla entre los siglos XII y XV cuando fueron un grupo profesional identificable de artesanos laicos, tanto cristianos como judíos. Estudiamos también su perfil según los textos, su función en la producción del libro medieval, la organización del trabajo o su papel en las ciudades castellanas. Por otra parte, no se ha realizado ningún estudio sistemático dolos pergaminos medievales españoles, pero la nueva codicología comparada puede ser un buen camino para entender mejor algunos rasgos específicos de los viejos pergaminos, así como otros elementos codigológicos. Pon ejemplo, ¿por qué tanto en la Biblia visigoda de Danila como en un Corán Fatimí, elaborados ambos en la Alta Edad Media, se empleó una técnica especial de tintado azul del pergamino?

"Effects of temperature and relative humidity on fibrillar collagen in parchment: a micro differential scanning calorimetry (micro DSC) study" by Badea et al (2012)

Badea, E.; Della Gatta, G.; Usacheva, T.; “Effects of temperature and relative humidity on fibrillar collagen in parchment: a micro differential scanning calorimetry (micro DSC) study”; Polymer Degradation and Stability 97(3) (2012) 346-353

doi: 10.1016/polymerdegradstab.2011.12.013 (restricted access)

Abstract:

Micro DSC measurements were used to investigate the synergistic effects of temperature and relative humidity on deterioration of parchment. Samples were obtained by exposing new parchments to various temperature and relative humidity atmospheres for increasing times in controlled test chambers. The impact of this accelerated ageing was assessed by measuring the thermodynamic parameters associated with the thermal denaturation of fibrillar collagen: variation of denaturation temperature, Tmax, indicated changes in collagen thermal stability, increases of DSC peak half-width, ΔT1/2, revealed greater thermal heterogeneity and structural disorder, whereas parallel decrease of denaturation enthalpy, ΔH, and DSC peak maximum height, max, measured the loss of fibrillar structure. Deconvolution of DSC denaturation peaks provided a valuable illustration of both the dynamics and the pattern of the deterioration of fibrillar collagen. Impact of temperature and relative humidity on parchment integrity and stability is discussed in terms of their implications for conservation science.

"Lubricants on vegetable tanned leather: effects and chemical changes" by Blaschke (2012)

Blaschke, Kristina; “Lubricants on vegetable tanned leather: effects and chemical changes”, Restaurator 33 (1) (2012) 76–99

DOI: 10.1515/res-2012-0004 (restricted access)

Abstract:

This paper addresses three questions concerning lubricants on vegetable-tanned leather. The first question is how do lubricants change leather; secondly, how deep does a lubricant absorb into leather if only applied on the grain; and further, which leather care product is most chemically stable? Four expert-recommended leather care products were chosen for testing: leather cream recommended by Larsen in 2007, the Dutch emulsion recommended by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, a modified leather dressing suggested by Fuchs in 2005 and Cire 213 recommended by the National Library of France. The equipment for investigation of the samples included colourimetric measurement and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM results indicated alteration in the morphology of leather. Cross sections of the leather samples were prepared and dyed to determine the absorption-behaviour of fats into bulk leather. The effect of mechanical treatment after lubrication was examined as well. In addition, the lubricated leather samples were subjected to artificial ageing, after which components of the lubricant that could be extracted were analyzed by means of GC/MS. It could be shown that all applied products suffer from cross-linking and oxidation due to the artificial ageing protocol. With regard to the results gained, all leather care products tested cannot be recommended for use in the conservation of vegetable-tanned leather.

Zusammenfassung:

Lederpflegemittel auf vegetabil gegerbtem Leder – Auswirkungen und chemische Veränderungen

Der vorliegende Beitrag befasst sich mit drei Fragen zu Lederpflegemitteln auf vegetabil gegerbtem Leder: Wie verändern Lederpflegemittel Leder? Wie tief penetrieren Lederpflegemittel in Leder, wenn sie nur von der Narbenseite her aufgetragen werden? Welches Lederpflegemittel verändert sich chemisch am geringsten? Vier Lederpflegemittel wurden untersucht: eine Ledercreme empfohlen von Larsen 2007, eine Emulsion empfohlen von der Niederländischen Nationalbibliothek, Den Haag, ein Dressing empfohlen von Fuchs (2005) und Cire 213 empfohlen von der Französischen Nationalbibliothek. Mit colorimetrischen Messungen wurden Farbveränderungen des Leders in Folge einer Nachfettung belegt. Durch Rasterelektronenmikroskopie wurde nachgewiesen, dass sich die Faserbündelabstände in der Ledermatrix durch eine Nachfettung sichtbar verändern. Gleichzeitig wurden Penetrationstiefen der Lederpflegemittel mit Fettanfärbungen von Lederquerschnitten untersucht. In einem Modellversuch wurde zudem der Effekt mechanischer Einwirkung auf die Ledermatrix nach einer Nachfettung analysiert. Chemische Veränderungen der Lederpflegemittel wurden mit Hilfe von Gaschromatographischer Massenspektrometrie nachgewiesen. Dazu wurden die nachgefetteten Lederproben klimatischem Stress ausgesetzt. Ein Resultat war, dass alle untersuchten Lederpflegemittel quervernetzen und oxidieren. Aufgrund der vorliegenden Ergebnisse kann keines der Lederpflegemittel für Konservierungsmassnahmen empfohlen werden.

Résumé:

Produits d’entretien lubrifiants appliqués sur le cuir tanné végétalement : effets et altérations chimiques

Le présent exposé traite de trois questions relatives à l’action des produits lubrifiants d’entretien sur le cuir tanné végétalement: la première question est de savoir comment ces produits lubrifiants modifient le cuir ; deuxièmement à quelle profondeur ces produits pénètrent-ils dans la membrane du cuir s’ils ne sont appliqués que du côté du grain ; et par ailleurs, quel est le produit d’entretien du cuir le plus stable du point de vue chimique ? Quatre produits d’entretien différents recommandés par les experts ont été retenus pour procéder aux tests : une crème de mégissage recommandée par Larsen en 2007 ; la Dutch émulsion recommandée par la Bibliothèque Nationale des Pays-Bas de La Haye ; un dressing suggéré par Fuchs (2005) et la Cire 213 recommandée par la Bibliothèque Nationale de France. L’équipement utilisé pour l’investigation des échantillons comportait un appareil de mesures chromatiques ainsi qu’un microscope électronique à balayage (SEM). Les mesures chromatiques ont démontré que des altérations de la couleur se produisaient suite à la lubrification. Le balayage par microscope électronique a également mis en évidence que les espaces entre les faisceaux de fibres se modifiaient sous l’action des lubrifiants, donc qu’une altération de la morphologie du cuir se produisait. Parallèlement on a analysé la profondeur de pénétration des produits d’entretien du cuir grâce à la coloration des produits lubrifiants sur des coupes transversales du cuir. On a examiné par ailleurs l’effet du traitement mécanique après lubrification. Les modifications chimiques des produits d’entretien du cuir ont été analysées au moyen de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse couplée à la spectrométrie de masse. Enfin ces échantillons de cuir après lubrification ont été soumis à un stress climatique. On a observé que tous les produits analysés n’étaient pas stables et s’oxydaient lors du vieillissement artificiel. Donc comme résultat de ces analyses il n’est possible de recommander aucun de ces produits pour la restauration des reliures de cuir tanné végétalement.

ICOM-CC Leather Working Group, Proceedings of past interim meetings available online

The following proceedings of the ICOM-CC, Leather and Related Materials (LRM) Working Group Interim Meetings have been digitized and/or made available online:

London 1992 Interim Meeting

Eds. Pieter Hallebeek, Marion Kate, Christopher Calnan 

(published in 1992)

URL / PDF

Brussels 1998 Interim Meeting

Ed. Theo Sturge 

(published in 2007)

URL / PDF

Vic 2000 Interim Meeting

Ed. Museu de l'Art de la Pell 

(published in 2004)

URL / PDF 

Athens 2004 Joint Interim Meeting

Papers/posters of LRM Working Group

Ed. Theo Sturge

(published in 2007)

URL / PDF 

Krakow 2007 Joint Interim Meeting

Paper/posters of LRM Working Group

Ed. Andreas Schulze

Paper: C. Bonnot-Diconne, J.-P. Fournet and B. Rondot; "Hanging of a XVIIth century Italian gilt leather at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris"

ULR / PDF

Poster: T. Sturge; "Gilt leather wall hangings at Dyrham Park. A trial for rehanging"

URL / PDF

Poster: M. Součkova; "Drying of leather book bindings affected by the 2002 flood"

URL / PDF

Rome 2010 Joint Interim Meeting 

Eds. Elsje Janssen, Mariabianca Paris, Malgorzata Sawicki, Kate Seymour and Andrew Thorn  

(published in 2010)

URL / PDF (restricted access)

Shagreen case, 1755-60, The MET Museum of Art

"Las encuadernaciones artísticas del siglo XVII en la Biblioteca Complutense” por Carpallo Bautista (2006)

Carpallo Bautista, A.; “Las encuadernaciones artísticas del siglo XVII en la Biblioteca Complutense” in,  S. Cabezas Fontanilla, M. Royo Martínez (ed.), V Jornadas Científicas sobre Documentación de Castilla e Indias durante el siglo XVII, Dpto. de Ciencias y Técnicas Historiográficas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2006) 9-64

PDF

Introducción:

La Biblioteca Histórica Marqués de Valdecilla de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid dispone de más de un centenar de encuadernaciones artísticas del siglo XVII donde podemos encontrar ornamentaciones de los estilos decorativos más representativos de la época como el denominado tipo abanico, a la Duseuil, Legascon, y pergaminos teñidos, pintados o jaspeados. Este trabajo pretende dar a conocer este tipo de encuadernaciones artísticas, estudiando los materiales y técnicas empleadas en la construcción de la encuadernación y las diferentes técnicas decorativas. También se hará un recorrido por las personalidades (nobles, reyes, eclesiásticos) que han estampado sus ex libris en las cubiertas.

Leather Work by Wilson (1908)

Wilson, W.; Leather Work, New York, 1908
InternetArchive

Table of contents:
Foreword

Kinds of Leather and Their Treatment

Design

Tracing and Design

Pyrography

Carving and Incising

Engraving

Modeling and Embossing

Stamping and Tooling

Cut Work

Appliqué

Inlay or Mosaic

Coloring and Gilding

Illustrations

Patterns

On parchment, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 402(4) (2012)

No número 4, volume 402, da revista Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry foram publicados vários artigos dedicados ao tema Analytical Techniques in Art, Archaeology and Conservation Science (pp. 1411-1592). Quatro desses artigos são sobre o estudo de pergaminho através de diferentes técnicas analíticas. Os autores, títulos e os respectivas resumos são os seguintes:

- T. Wolff, I. Rabin, I. Mantouvalou, B. Kanngießer, W. Malzer, E. Kindzorra and O. Hahn; “Provenance studies on Dead Sea scrolls parchment by means of quantitative micro-XRF”, pp. 1493-1503

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5270-2 (restricted access)

Abstract:

In this study, we address the question of the provenance and origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts. A characteristic low ratio of chlorine to bromine, corresponding to that of the Dead Sea water, may serve as an indicator for local production. For this aim we developed a non-destructive procedure to determine the Cl/Br ratio in the parchment of these manuscripts. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) measurements of a large number of parchment and leather fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls were analyzed with a routine we developed based on fundamental parameter quantification. This routine takes into account the absorption of the collagen matrix and the influence of the different sample thicknesses. To calculate the representative Cl/Br ratio for each fragment, we investigated the lateral homogeneity and determined the total mass deposition using the intensity of the inelastically scattered, characteristic tube radiation. The distribution of the Cl/Br ratios thus obtained from the μ-XRF measurements make it possible to distinguish fragments whose origin lies within the Dead Sea region from those produced in other locations.

- F. Pinzari, P. Colaizzi, O. Maggi, A. M. Persiani, R. Schütz and I. Rabin; “Fungal bioleaching of mineral components in a twentieth-century illuminated parchment”, pp. 1541-1550

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5263-1 (restricted access)

Abstract:

In this work, we applied scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microanalysis and Raman spectroscopy to study the fungi inhabiting a richly illuminated parchment document and the damage induced by their activity. To that aim, we collected samples of fungal mycelium from the deteriorated areas on a removable adhesive tape specifically intended for lifting fungi without damaging the support. SEM analysis of the adhesive tape samples showed the co-occurrence of several species of fungi. One strain closely resembling Acremonium species was observed only in the tape micrographs but no agar cultures were obtained. Its fungal structures showed the production of abundant oxalates with an outstanding leaching of the calcium-based materials of parchment (typically manufactured with gypsum and lime). Needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate produced by the fungus forming a uniform and quite regular grid around conidial slimy heads were documented. As a result, the areas affected by moulds were weakened, stained and characterised by a powdery patina rich in calcium. Confocal μ-Raman confirmed the presence of oxalates while EDS showed the presence of calcium in crystals. We conclude that the defacement of the parchment was due to both collagenolytic activity, and to the biotransformation of calcium-based minerals by fungi.

- A. Masic, M. R. Chierotti, R. Gobetto, G. Martra,I. Rabin and S. Coluccia; “Solid-state and unilateral NMR study of deterioration of a Dead Sea Scroll fragment”, pp. 1551-1557

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5265-z (restricted access)

Abstract:

Unilateral and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses were performed on a parchment fragment of the Dead Sea Scroll (DSS). The analyzed sample belongs to the collection of non-inscribed and non treated fragments of known archaeological provenance from the John Rylands University Library in Manchester. Therefore, it can be considered as original DSS material free from any contamination related to the post-discovery period. Considering the paramount significance of the DSS, non invasive approaches and portable in situ non destructive methods are of fundamental importance for the determination of composition, structure, and chemical–physical properties of the materials under study. NMR studies reveal low amounts of water content associated with very short proton relaxation times, T 1, indicating a high level of deterioration of collagen molecules within scroll fragments. In addition, ¹³C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning (CPMAS) NMR spectroscopy shows characteristic peaks of lipids whose presence we attribute to the production technology that did not involve liming. Extraction with chloroform led to the reduction of both lipid and protein signals in the ¹³C CPMAS spectrum indicating probable involvement of lipids in parchment degradation processes. NMR absorption and relaxation measurements provide non destructive, discriminative, and sensitive tools for studying the deterioration effects on the organization and properties of water and collagen within ancient manuscripts.

- A. Možir, L. Gonzalez, I. Kralj Cigić, T. J. Wess, I. Rabin, O. Hahn and M. Strlič; “A study of degradation of historic parchment using small-angle X-ray scattering, synchrotron-IR and multivariate data analysis”, pp. 1559-1566

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-5392-6 (restricted access)

Abstract:

Parchment has been in use for thousands of years and has been used as the writing or drawing support for many important historic works. A variety of analytical techniques is currently used for routine assessment of the degree of denaturation of historic parchment; however, because parchment has a heterogeneous nature, analytical methods with high spatial resolution are desirable. In this work, the use of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and synchrotron-IR (SR-IR) was examined in conjunction with multivariate data analysis to study degradation of an extended set of historic parchment samples, and particularly to investigate the effect of lipids and the presence of iron gall ink on the degradation processes. In the data analysis, shrinkage temperature, lipid content, sample age, presence of ink and accelerated degradation were included. The analysis of loading factors in partial least-squares regression and principal component analyses based on SAXS, SR-IR and other analytical and descriptive data reveals the effect of lipid removal on diffraction patterns, and lipids are found to cause the degradation process in parchment to accelerate. The effect of iron gall ink is also evident, although the mechanism of ageing is different to that of natural ageing in the absence of ink. In addition, a historic parchment score from ca. 1750 is examined, demonstrating the significant effect of iron gall ink, and lipids and inorganic soiling on its increased degradation.