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The Black Hours: Material and Conservation Study, Part 1

Mühlen Axelsson, Kathleen LU ; Sonderegger, Junko ; Hofmann, Christa ; Hofer, Birgit ; Sommer, Dorte ; Whitmore, Karin ; Bernardi, Johannes ; Jembrih-Simbürger, Dubravka ; Cappa, Federica and Aceto, Maurizio (2024) In Journal of Paper Conservation
Abstract
The Book of Hours of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, V. Duke of Milan (Vienna, Austrian National Library, Codex 1856), the so-called Black Hours, is a Flemish illuminated manuscript with silver and gold ink on black coloured parchment from the third quarter of the fifteenth century. The severe deterioration of the parchment by the black colourant resulted in brittleness and numerous losses. This paper describes the history of the manuscript and previous interventions. The condition of the various materials was assessed and put in context with the other six black manuscripts that have been preserved worldwide. The fibre morphology, the hydrothermal stability and the investigation of the fibre structure in the Scanning electron microscope confirmed... (More)
The Book of Hours of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, V. Duke of Milan (Vienna, Austrian National Library, Codex 1856), the so-called Black Hours, is a Flemish illuminated manuscript with silver and gold ink on black coloured parchment from the third quarter of the fifteenth century. The severe deterioration of the parchment by the black colourant resulted in brittleness and numerous losses. This paper describes the history of the manuscript and previous interventions. The condition of the various materials was assessed and put in context with the other six black manuscripts that have been preserved worldwide. The fibre morphology, the hydrothermal stability and the investigation of the fibre structure in the Scanning electron microscope confirmed the degradation of the parchment fibres. The black colourant was identified as iron gall ink by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy. The elemental composition of silver and gold was analysed with XRF. Based on these results, a model conservation treatment and a new preservation solution were developed. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Parchment, iron gall ink, silver and gold ink, parchment conservation, material analysis, Pergament, Eisengallustinte, Silber- und Goldtusche, Pergamentkonservierung, Materialanalyse
in
Journal of Paper Conservation
pages
18 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
ISSN
2057-1682
DOI
10.1080/18680860.2024.2420274
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6622eb5e-aec8-4482-b821-7eb210c51fe9
date added to LUP
2024-11-20 09:26:44
date last changed
2025-04-04 13:57:21
@article{6622eb5e-aec8-4482-b821-7eb210c51fe9,
  abstract     = {{The Book of Hours of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, V. Duke of Milan (Vienna, Austrian National Library, Codex 1856), the so-called Black Hours, is a Flemish illuminated manuscript with silver and gold ink on black coloured parchment from the third quarter of the fifteenth century. The severe deterioration of the parchment by the black colourant resulted in brittleness and numerous losses. This paper describes the history of the manuscript and previous interventions. The condition of the various materials was assessed and put in context with the other six black manuscripts that have been preserved worldwide. The fibre morphology, the hydrothermal stability and the investigation of the fibre structure in the Scanning electron microscope confirmed the degradation of the parchment fibres. The black colourant was identified as iron gall ink by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy. The elemental composition of silver and gold was analysed with XRF. Based on these results, a model conservation treatment and a new preservation solution were developed.}},
  author       = {{Mühlen Axelsson, Kathleen and Sonderegger, Junko and Hofmann, Christa and Hofer, Birgit and Sommer, Dorte and Whitmore, Karin and Bernardi, Johannes and Jembrih-Simbürger, Dubravka and Cappa, Federica and Aceto, Maurizio}},
  issn         = {{2057-1682}},
  keywords     = {{Parchment; iron gall ink; silver and gold ink; parchment conservation; material analysis; Pergament; Eisengallustinte; Silber- und Goldtusche; Pergamentkonservierung; Materialanalyse}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Paper Conservation}},
  title        = {{The Black Hours: Material and Conservation Study, Part 1}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/18680860.2024.2420274}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/18680860.2024.2420274}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}