Vambrace (armour for the upper arm), 14th century, The British Museum

"English Medieval leatherwork" by Russell (1939)

Russel, Janet; "English Medieval leatherwork", The Archaeological Journal 96 (1939) 132-141

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“A report on the examination of animal skin artefacts from the Bronze Age Salt Mines of Hallstatt, Austria” by Harris (2006)

Harris, Susanna; “A report on the examination of animal skin artefacts from the Bronze Age Salt Mines of Hallstatt, Austria”, Papers from the Institute of Archaeology 17 (2006) 69–76

DOI:10.5334/pia.270 / PDF

Research Aims and Method:

The aim of this report is to describe the ten animal skin fragments and artefacts, and to discuss these in relation to the qualities and role of skins as a cloth technology in the Bronze Age. This includes the colour and texture, dimensions and thickness, sewing, seams and edges, use and reuse of these artefacts. These fragments and artefacts have not been studied before and add to the previously published findings of animal skin artefacts from the Bronze Age salt mines, most recently published in a number of articles by Barth (1993; 1992; 1989) and will be discussed in comparison to recent analysis of the textile finds (Grömer 2005) from the same site and in relation to the context of animal skins in the Bronze Age.

"La pell als habitatges d´època gòtica a la Corona d'Aragó: mobles i objectes" por Pascual Miró (2011)

Pascual Miró, Eva; “La pell als habitatges d’època gòtica a la Corona d’Aragó: mobles i objectes”, Revista d’Igualada 37 (2011) 7–13

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Die Lederwaren-Industrie in Offenbach am Main und Umgebung von Hager (1905)

Hager, Ludwig; Die Lederwaren-Industrie in Offenbach am Main und Umgebung, Dissertation zur Erlangung der akademischen Doktorwürde einer Hohen Philosophischen Fakultät der Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg (1905)
URL (InternetArchive)

Talbot casket, c.1400, The British Museum

"Leather manufacturing and circulating models in the Middle Ages...." by Murat (2011)

Murat, Zuleika; “Leather manufacturing and circulating models in the Middle Ages: from a Byzantine patena in Halberstadt to a Veneto-Cretan Icon in Ljubljana”, Zbornik za umetnostno zgodovino 47 (2011) 75–97
URL / PDF

"Per un'archeologia della produzione in conceria: possibili percorsi d'indagine" di Deferrari (2000)

Deferrari, Giancarla; "Per un'archeologia della produzione in conceria: possibili percorsi d'indagine", in S. Gelichi (a cura di), Atti del I Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Medievale, Pisa, 29-31 Maggio 1997, All'Insegna del Giglio, Firenze (2000) 363-368

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A comparative study on surface treatments in conservation of dry leather, with focus on silicone oil by Ludwick (2012)

Ludwick, Lena, A comparative study on surface treatments in conservation of dry leather, with focus on silicone oil, BA/Sc thesis, Goteborg, Göteborgs Universitet, 2012

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Abstract:

In the museums, private collections and historical houses, there is a wealth of leather artifacts, in various need of conservation. The treatment options, however, are few, and all with their drawbacks. This thesis aims to evaluate silicone oil as a surface treatment for dry leather, in comparison to two other treatments, Klucel G and British Museum leather dressing (BML). The study shows that the silicone oil treatment yields satisfactory results, and the literature and previous studies have indicated superior long term characteristics. Klucel G gave less than satisfactory results, but has better long term characteristics than the BML, though the BML also had satisfactory direct results. The chemical composition, tanning and deterioration of leather are also described The properties and chemical composition of the silicone oil treatment are reviewed and discussed. The treatment consists of three components: the silicone oil, a cross-linker and a catalyst. They create an internal scaffolding in the cell wall, stabilizing the cellular structure. The biggest drawback of the silicone oil treatment is that it is non-reversible, and that has to be factored in to any decision made to conserve an object. The ethical implications are discussed, and the decision whether or not to use the silicone oil treatment should be done on a case-to-case basis, weighing in all factors.

"La concia pastorale sannito-romana" di Maio (2009)

Maio, Mimma di; "La concia pastorale sannito-romana", in Soto l'ala di Clio, Solofra (2009) 137-146

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La concia solofrana
http://www.solofrastorica.it/conciasolofrana.htm

Medieval Manuscripts: Bookbinding terms, materials, methods and models (2013)

Medieval Manuscripts:
Bookbinding terms, materials, methods and models
URL / PDF

This beautifully illustrated booklet compiled by the Special Collections Conservation Unit of the Preservation Department of Yale University Library is now online. It is a PDF version of the printed booklet on bookbinding included in the Traveling Scriptorium (http://travelingscriptorium.library.yale.edu/) kit.
It contains sections on materials of Medieval bookbinding; terminology; Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic, and limp bindings; and a comprehensive bibliography.

Adhesive treatments: skins and leathers by Dignard (2013)

Carole Dignard, conservator from the Canadian Conservation Institute, organised two valuable documents on adhesive backing treatments of leathers and skins. They were recently made available on-line at the ICOM-CC Ethnographic Collections Working Group web page.

The titles of the documents and the links are as follows:

- Annotated Bibliography on Adhesive Treatments of Skins and Leathers
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- Literature Survey Tables on Adhesives, Backings and Application Methods for Treatments of Skins and Leathers
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Postprints of the 10th Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Leather & Related Materials Working Group (2013)

Céline Bonnot-Diconne, Carole Dignard, Jutta Göpfrich (eds.), Postprints of the 10th Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Leather & Related Materials Working Group, Offenbach, 29-31 August 2012, ICOM-CC (2013)

URL

"Achega ao gremio de curtidores e zapateiros de Pontedeume nos séculos XVII-XVIII” por Costas Fernández e Macedo Cordal (2008)

Costas Fernández, Lucía; Macedo Cordal, Carola; “Achega ao gremio de curtidores e zapateiros de Pontedeume nos séculos XVII-XVIII”, Cátedra: revista eumesa de estudios 15 (2008) 289–380

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MEMORI EU-Research Project Website

MEMORI European Research Project (2010-2013)

"Measurement, effect assessment and mitigation of pollutant impact on movable cultural assets. Innovative research for market transfer"

http://www.memori-project.eu/

Public final report: PDF (added to this post on April 2014)

"MEMORI Project.....and NANOFORART..." by Odlyha et al (2012)

Odlyha, M.; Bozec, L.; Dahlin, E.; Grøntoft, T.; Chelazzi, D.; Baglioni, P.; et al., “MEMORI Project: evaluation of damage to exposed organic-based heritage materials and NANOFORART: evaluation of nanoparticle-based conservation treatment”, International Journal of Heritage in the Digital Era 1(S1) (2012) 319–324

DOI:10.1260/2047-4970.1.0.319 / PDF

Abstract:

This paper presents preliminary studies and work in progress in the framework of two FP7 projects: MEMORI (Measurement, Effect Assessment and Mitigation of Pollutant Impact on Movable Cultural Assets - Innovative Research for Market Transfer) and NANOFORART (Nano-materials for the conservation and preservation of movable and immovable artworks). One of the aims of the MEMORI project is the determination of threshold levels of damage to exposed organic-based heritage objects as little is known about the impact of organic compounds, especially volatile organic acids, on organic-based cultural objects. In the previous PROPAINT project (Protection of Paintings during Exhibition, Storage Transit) it was recently demonstrated that levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were often much higher in the micro-climate frames used to protect paintings than recommended levels. In this paper, examples will be given of changes observed in varnished strips exposed at selected sites. Studies on the effect on collagen-based materials will also be presented. Techniques used in both projects include Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), micro-thermal analysis (μ-TA), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The NANOFORART project explores the effects of using nanoparticle-based conservation treatment on cellulosic and collagen-based cultural materials. It builds on previous work performed on deacidification of canvas paintings using conventional materials. For collagen-based materials, no previous conservation treatment using nanoparticles has been performed on historical parchment or leather objects. Preliminary work is directed at understanding the type of nanoparticles to use to improve the physicochemical state of collagen-based objects.

Lounge chair and ottoman by Ray and Charles Eames, 1953-55, Victoria & Albert Museum

“Diagnostic analyses for the study of materials, technique and state of preservation of a gilt and painted leather of the XVIII century” by Mannina and Lombardo (2013)

Mannina, Loredana; Lombardo, Angela, “Diagnostic analyses for the study of materials, technique and state of preservation of a gilt and painted leather of the XVIII century”, Procedia Chemistry 8 (2013) 202–211

DOI:10.1016/j.proche.2013.03.026 / PDF (ScienceDirect)

Abstract:

In this study we report on the restoration work for the gilded and painted leather from the Sanctuary of the Santissimo Crocifisso di Papardura in Enna, Italy. The work started with a historical and stylistic examination of the artwork which dates back to 18th century. The study of the leather and its decoration was deepened thanks to specific scientific analysis (such as XRF spectroscopy, Raman and SEM) in order to assure the integrity of the material during the restoration work. To this end, a diagnostic procedure was set up to provide a clear picture of constitutive materials (type of leather, silver leaf and pigments), technique, and state of preservation.

"Evaluation of the amino acid composition, structure and properties of archaeological leather" by Plavan et al (2013)

Plavan, Viktoriia; Miu, Lucretia; Gavrilyuk, Nadia; “Evaluation of the amino acid composition, structure and properties of archaeological leather”, Procedia Chemistry 8 (2013) 279–283

DOI:10.1016/j.proche.2013.03.034 / PDF (ScienceDirect)

Abstract:

Specimens of new and archaeological leather before and after restoration were investigated. It was determined that both the ageing of leather and its further restoration affect the amount of polar amino acids in the leather. TG, DTG and DTA studies of the new and archaeological leather before and after restoration allowed a conclusion to be drawn that the prevailing process in the thermal destruction of the new leather is the breakage of cross-linking formed in tanning. In its turn, the prevailing process in the thermal destruction of the restored leather is oxidation of the products of reaction between collagen and organic substances introduced during the restoration.

“The effects of hydration on the collagen and gelatine phases within parchment artefacts” by Gonzalez and Wess (2013)

Gonzalez, Lee Grant; Wess, Timothy James, “The effects of hydration on the collagen and gelatine phases within parchment artefacts”, Heritage Science 1:14 (2013)

DOI:10.1186/2050-7445-1-14 / PDF (Chemistry Central)

Abstract:

This review discusses the need to understand the effects of relative humidity on parchment and the current understanding of parchment structure and hydration. It also provides a critical evaluation of the body of foregoing research investigating the effects of relative humidity on parchment artefacts. The critical evaluation shows that the current scientific evidence that can be used to inform the debate with regard to relative humidity guidelines for the preservation of parchment artefacts is insufficient, especially in the light of a greater understanding of parchment based documents when considered as composite materials comprising collagen and gelatine. The differential behaviour of collagen and gelatine (and consequently the effect on the interfaces between them) in terms of response to relative humidity changes, is proposed as a key factor to be considered for future studies. This review concludes with an analysis of the next steps required in parchment research in order to provide an informed advisory framework.