Paper Conservation: Decisions & Compromises

Fig. 3
Fig. 4
centuries (The Prague Castle Archive, Metropolitan
Chapter Library, O.83) can help us to
reconstruct the manuscript’s bifolia back into
the shape of the animal from which the skin
was made. By this “reverse” method we can
also learn interesting information about the
sizes of sheep skins and how parchment was
folded and divided into bifolia and later distributed
and organized in quires (Fig. 3).
C The codex which includes King Valdemar’s Cadastre
(The Danish National Archives, C 8) and
other manuscripts from the end of 13 th century
is rather small in size and brings together
slightly different types of parchment, which,
thanks to the traces of the parchment-maker’s
tools and other characteristics, can be identified,
compared and partly sorted into certain
groups. It is also rather interesting to compare
this parchment with the parchment of other
codices which were written by the same scribe
and preserved in different libraries (Fig. 4).
Conclusions
Parchment in manuscripts carry, like a vessel
travelling through history, in several layers of information
from the past. In order to understand
these it is necessary to learn its language by carrying
out systematic research on the characteristics
of different types of parchment and the different
signs left on the surface from the process
of manufacture or later damage. The clue lies in
correct evaluation of the results obtained from
visual analyses and combining them into certain
patterns.
Some methods are developed and these have
already brought interesting results as in the case
of several individual manuscripts, but their great
potential can be improved by development of
specialised computer programs which will enable
research into and evaluation of a much larger
number of folia and animal skins from which
parchment manuscripts have been made.
There is no doubt that highly specialised material
analyses can produce relevant information
but it is extremely important to target them
precisely and effectively. The best effect will be
obtained especially by interdisciplinary research
involving codicologists and other historians,
researchers in manuscripts, who will combine
their knowledge with that of experts in other
fields such as archaeology, biology, conservation
and forensic science.
Texts for illustrations
Fig. 1: Each bifolio of the second volume
in the Hamburg Bible is created from
one calfskin. This means that the original
spine of the animal was laid down
horizontally at right angles to the spine
of the book. Backing light made observation
of the former rump and spine of the
animal easier. Note also the marks of the
vertebrae and the U-shaped cut in the
area of the former tail.
ICOM-CC Graphic Documents Working Group Interim Meeting | Vienna 17 – 19 April 2013
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