Historical iron gall ink containing documents — Properties affecting their condition

Kolar, Jana; Štolfa, Andrej; Strlič, Matija; Pompe, Matevž; Pihlar, Boris; Budnar, M.; Simčič, J.; Reissland, Birgit

doi:10.1016/j.aca.2005.08.073

Cited by 122 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Medieval recipes for iron gall ink utilised iron(II) sulfate (green vitriol) and sometimes also copper(II) sulfate (blue vitriol) along with gallotannic acid (from galls) and a gum Arabic binder (48). These sulfate salts were probably not pure and may have been mixed with other metal salts including zinc(II) sulfate (or white vitriol) as it is known that some pre18th century historical inks contained more zinc than iron (47,(49)(50)(51). In the carnation areas lead (from lead white) is the predominant element, but small amounts of iron and zinc can also be detected (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman microscopy and x-ray fluorescence analysis of pigments on medieval and Renaissance Italian manuscript cuttings

Burgio

Clark

Hark

2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Italian medieval and Renaissance manuscript cuttings and miniatures from the Victoria and Albert Museum were analyzed by Raman microscopy to compile a database of pigments used in different periods and different Italian regions. The palette identified in most manuscripts and cuttings was found to include lead white, gypsum, azurite, lazurite, indigo, malachite, vermilion, red lead, lead tin yellow (I), goethite, carbon, and iron gall ink. A few of the miniatures, such as the historiated capital “M” painted by Gerolamo da Cremona and the Petrarca manuscript by Bartolomeo Sanvito, are of exceptional quality and were analyzed extensively; some contained unusual materials. The widespread usage of iron oxides such as goethite and hematite as minor components of mixtures with azurite is particularly notable. The use of a needle-shaped form of iron gall ink as a pigment rather than a writing material was established by both Raman microscopy and x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for the Madonna and Child by Franco de’ Russi.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman microscopy and x-ray fluorescence analysis of pigments on medieval and Renaissance Italian manuscript cuttings

Burgio

Clark

Hark

2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…If the writing ink or pigment is particularly instable (e.g. iron-gall ink), then the isochrones for acidic paper could be used (pH 5, DP 0 600) as a first approximation, as it seems likely that acidity is one of the main contributors to iron gall ink degradation [25].…”

Section: Isochronesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Damage function for historic paper. Part III: Isochrones and demography of collections

et al. 2015

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Background: In the context of evidence-based management of historic collections, a damage function combines aspects of material degradation, use, and consideration of material attributes that are important for satisfactory extraction of benefits from user interaction with heritage. In libraries and archives, it has been shown that users (readers and visitors) are mainly concerned with loss of textual information, which could lead to degradation being described as unacceptable, at which an object might become unfit for use and therefore damaged. The contribution explores the development of the damage function for historic paper based on data available in the literature. Results:We have modelled the dose-response function taking into account 121 paper degradation experiments with known T, RH of the environment, and pH of paper. The function is based on the Arrhenius equation and published water absorption isotherm functions for paper. New isoperm plots have been calculated and isochrones have been developed. These are plots linking points of equal expected 'lifetime' , i.e. time until an object is expected to reach the state of threshold fitness-for-use. We also modelled demographic curves for a well-characterised research collection of historic papers, exploring the loss of fitness for use with time. Conclusions:The new tools enable us to evaluate scenarios of management of the storage environment as well as levels of access, for different types of library and archival paper. In addition, the costs and benefits of conservation interventions can be evaluated. The limitations of the function are the context of use (dark storage and reading), exclusive focus on the properties of an average paper type, and de-prioritised effect of pollutants; however, the latter can be considered separately. This work also demonstrates that transparent and publically accountable collection management decisions can be informed, and challenged by, effective interaction with a variety of stakeholders including the lay public.

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“…The two main reasons for iron gall ink corrosion are acid hydrolysis and oxidation, which is catalysed by ferrous ions. 1 In contrast to acid hydrolysis, the oxidative decay of cellulose has not been extensively studied yet. 2,3 Hydroperoxides, produced during oxidation of organic materials, are decomposed via the so-called Fenton reaction in the presence of catalytic transition metal ions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

XANES analysis of Fe valence in iron gall inks

et al. 2007

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Historical iron gall ink containing documents — Properties affecting their condition

Cited by 122 publications

References 23 publications

Raman microscopy and x-ray fluorescence analysis of pigments on medieval and Renaissance Italian manuscript cuttings

Raman microscopy and x-ray fluorescence analysis of pigments on medieval and Renaissance Italian manuscript cuttings

Damage function for historic paper. Part III: Isochrones and demography of collections

XANES analysis of Fe valence in iron gall inks

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