Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Fundamentals of Paper Conservation

Code

2680

Academic unit

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Department

Departamento de Conservação e Restauro

Credits

6.0

Teacher in charge

Maria da Conceição Lopes Casanova

Weekly hours

Total hours

Teaching language

Português

Objectives

- Develop theoretical and practical knowledge for the identification and characterization of art on paper and archival/Library materials, as well as, understand its historical evolution;

- Comprehend the main deterioration processes and causes of alteration of paper based materials;

- Learn how to do a survey and a pathologies diagnosis for these kind of documents;

- Understand, reflect and develop conservation and preservation decisions and techniques through hands-on working experience;

- Presentation and study of practical case study.

Subject matter

1. Nature of art on paper, Archives and library materials

1.1. Support materials:

1.1.1. Supports before the use of paper;

1.1.2. Paper base documents: manufacturing techniques and its evolution.

1.2. Medium materials:

1.2.1 Archival and Library medium materials

1.2.2 Art on paper medium materials

1.3.The book construction and materials diversity for its production.

2. Art on paper, Archives and Library materials deterioration processes

2.1. Internal causes of deterioration

2.1.1. Related to the nature of the materials;

2.1.2. Related to the typologies of the documents;

2.2. External causes of deterioration:

2.2.1. Environmental conditions;

2.2.2. Physical and mechanical factores;

2.2.3. Biodegradation agents;

2.2.4. Security and safety: from the disaster till the improper treatment procedure.

3. Condition survey and pathologies diagnosis

3.1. Documents examination techniques;

3.2. Documents analysis methods application

3.3. Documents conservation conditions record and general report.

4. An introduction to materials and treatment methods available for documents conservation

4.1. Principal treatments techniques: Surface cleaning, washing, deacidification, consolidation and mending/ lining;

4.2. Preservation facilities: environmental control, proper storage and exhibition and handing practices

4.3. Practical work: outlining treatment procedures and preservation conditions for a case study.

Bibliography

“Paper Conservator”, “Restaurator”, “Journal of PaperConservation”, Cadernos BAD.

COLLINGS, Tom; MILNEV, Devek ; - « A new chronology of papermaking technology », in « Paper conservator », nº 14, 1990

DIEHL,Edith, -“Boobinding: Its background and Technique”, Dover publications, New York, 1980

HUNTER, Dard, - “Papermaking: the history and technique of Ancient Craft”, Dover publications, New York, 1978

IVESSALO – Pfaffli; MARJA-Sisko – “Fibre Atlas: Identification of Papermaking Fibres”, Springer, 1995, ISBN: 3-540-55392-4.

LIÉNARDY, Anne / VAN DAMME, Philippe, “Manuel de Conservation et de Restauration du Papier”, Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique, Bruxelles, 1989

ROBERTS, J.C., -“The Chemist of Paper”, The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1996

VAILANT CALLOL, Milagros; RODRIGO, Nieves – Principios Básicos de la conservation documental y causas de su deterioro, Madrid: Instituto del patrimonio Histórico Español, 1996.

Teaching method

Practical and Theoretical presentations, studio-based work emphasizing on the specific students case study.

Evaluation method

Practical session/classeroom participation; Final report presentation

Courses

Licenciatura em Conservação - Restauro