During Treatment

After Treatment

Treatment Report

Microsoft Word Version

Date Examined: 10/10/2006

Date Completed: 12/11/2006

Conservator: Brenna Campbell

Instructor: Chela Metzger

Author: Eugène Rouyer

Title: L'Art Architectural en France

Imprint: 1861

Binding Dimensions (cm):            H: 36.0     W: 27.8    D: 4.9

Textblock Dimensions (cm):         H: 35.0     W: 26.0     D: 3.8

DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION SUMMARY

The sewing is an example of overcasting, in which single leaves (especially plates) have been joined by hand. Because of the sewing structure, the opening of the textblock must be limited to prevent damage. Preferential openings are visible as cracks along the textblock consolidation. The hollow tube, tight joint construction, which has previously been mended with a leather reback, has failed at the front joint, causing the front board to remain attached only by an overcast cloth joint, and the spine to flap back and away from the backbone. It is likely that the back joint will also fail when exposed to moisture and flexing during treatment. The boards are in generally good condition, with some damage to the corners and edges. In a few areas the leather covering the boards has become cracked and delaminated from the boards.

PHOTODOCUMENTATION

Digital BT, DT, AT:  Ambient Light

TREATMENT PROPOSAL

In order to protect the sewing, the spine of the textblock will be carefully cleaned and reconcolidated, with linings of a quantity and type to ensure proper opening. The broken hollow will be replaced, and the tight joint will be repaired using a sympathetically toned material such as leather or Japanese tissue. The areas of lifting leather will be glued down and the corners reconsolidated as necessary. The repaired book will be housed in a custom made book shoe to protect it from further scuffing, and to provide support for the textblock.

TREATMENT PERFORMED

1. Cleaned spine with a poultice of 4% methyl cellulose and washed stuck-on endbands

2. Lined spine overall with wheat starch paste and one layer of Usi-usimino paper, with additional linings over area of broken sewing

3. Lined spine with PVA-paste mix and overhanging airplane cotton

4. Re-adhered original endbands

5. Lined spine with five layers of 70# machine made paper

6. Formed a flexible hollow tube with overhanging airplane cotton

7. Re-adhered spine to the hollow, and readhered the cloth gussets in the joints

8. Toned the areas of the tube visible in the joint to match surrounding materials

9. Re-adhered areas of lifting cloth and leather

10. Housed in a book shoe with textblock support