Seite - 188 - in The Vienna Genesis - Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment
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188 Alteration study of silver inks on parchment
In addition, all silver inks that contained copper(II)acetate formed rust-like halos on
the samples prepared with parchment glue (Fig. 35). It seems that the vinegar in the mix-
ture is responsible for this phenomenon.
Comparison with the silver ink of the Vienna Genesis
Comparing the appearance of the reference inks with the damage patterns of the Vienna
Genesis, it is evident that it was not possible to recreate the appearance of the original
silver ink, either in damage or optical characteristics. The surface of the original ink is
smooth, but also a bit coarse on some folios. The silver seems to be finely ground and
sufficiently adherent (Fig. 36). The amount of silver powder and binder appears to be well
balanced, which was often not the case with the reference inks. The silver did not flake
off like it did with the majority of the reference inks. Many of the reference inks are more
crumbly than the original ink. It was not possible to burnish them.
Considering the degradation of the silver ink of the Vienna Genesis and its multiple treat-
ments, the visual impression of the original ink has probably changed considerably com-
pared to its original appearance. Not all components of the silver ink, nor all later addi-
tions like adhesives, could be identified by analysis, see chapter on silver ink. Therefore, it
Fig. 36: Microscopic images, 12x magnification (scale bar 1 mm), of the silver ink of the Vienna Genesis
a) folio 10, page 19, b) folio 12, page 23.
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
- Titel
- The Vienna Genesis
- Untertitel
- Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment
- Herausgeber
- Christa Hofmann
- Verlag
- Böhlau Verlag
- Ort
- Wien
- Datum
- 2020
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- CC BY 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-205-21058-0
- Abmessungen
- 17.3 x 24.5 cm
- Seiten
- 348