Page - 277 - in The Vienna Genesis - Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment
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Sophie Rabitsch, Christa Hofmann, Junko Sonderegger 277
The parchment should not be pressed, but larger movements of the material should still be
avoided. Furthermore, the surface of the folios should be accessible, without visual distor-
tion. Future scientific research should be possible, therefore the storage solution should be
reversible, in case other alternatives or solutions prove to be better in the future. Monitor-
ing of fragile areas should take place once a year.
Different storage models were considered during intensive discussions with several col-
leagues:
- A common solution for single parchment folios is the mounting in a window mat,
using Japanese tissue strips adhered on all the margins. In the case of the folios of the
Vienna Genesis, a double sided window mat that can be closed would be necessary.
This version was considered too risky, due to the fragility of the parchment, especially
the corroded areas. Furthermore, an adhesive would have to be applied to the edges of
the folios in order to attach the Japanese tissue strips, which could introduce tension or
moisture in the parchment.
- Another possibility for storage is the sink mat, developed by Junko Sonderegger: single
folios are placed in a smooth folder made of Japanese tissue paper, which is stored in a
museum matboard folder adjusted with small spacers to avoid pressure applied to the
parchment. The matboard folder is further protected in a larger sink mat with a cover
board. This solution is minimally invasive, without the introduction of an adhesive, and
the folios can be accessed on both sides.
- Pockets of Japanese tissue or silk gauze were considered, such as for some folios of the
Archimedes Palimpsest56. A model involving silk or synthetic gauze in combination
with a closable double sided window mat was developed by Abigail Quandt. The single
folios would be fixed between two matboard frames adjusted with two layers of gauze in
the middle without the introduction of an adhesive. The two matboard frames are fixed
together with small magnets. This model is minimally invasive, but even with the very
thin gauze, the impression of the folios is changed.
- Another model for storage was developed by Valerio Capra and Diego Rivella57. The
single folios would be stored floating inside an acrylic box, adjusted with springs. Strips
of Japanese paper would have to be applied to the margins of the folios. The tension
could be adjusted, depending on the movement of the parchment. Like the first option,
this version was considered too risky, due to the fragility of the folios.
The models and different solutions were discussed at the expert meeting in November 2017.
Valerio Capra kindly provided a full model of the frame-box. Colleagues at the Institute of
Conservation at the Austrian National Library and the Conservation Department of the Al-
56 Quandt, 2011, pp. 156–161.
57 Valerio Capra presented the model at the expert meeting in November 2017.
Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY 4.0
The Vienna Genesis
Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment
- Title
- The Vienna Genesis
- Subtitle
- Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment
- Editor
- Christa Hofmann
- Publisher
- Böhlau Verlag
- Location
- Wien
- Date
- 2020
- Language
- English
- License
- CC BY 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-205-21058-0
- Size
- 17.3 x 24.5 cm
- Pages
- 348