The use of enzymatic gels in the conservation treatment of Mendelssohn’s ‘Green Books’

This paper discusses the conservation treatment of the incoming correspondence of the German musician and composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847). It presents the challenges encountered during the conservation of this collection of letters, which were strongly adhered together and presented...

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書目詳細資料
Main Authors: Delattre, C, Bearman, J, Choi, YL, McPherson, L, Stiglitz, M
格式: Conference item
語言:English
出版: ICOM-CC Publications 2023
實物特徵
總結:This paper discusses the conservation treatment of the incoming correspondence of the German musician and composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847). It presents the challenges encountered during the conservation of this collection of letters, which were strongly adhered together and presented fugitive inks on delicate papers. After several trials and experiments, a tailored enzymatic treatment was developed to detach the letters from each other. The enzyme trypsin was incorporated into agarose gel and used to treat animal glue, whilst the enzyme α-amylase mixed with water, in tandem with humidification through Gore-Tex, was used to treat starch paste. The letters were then stabilised with a gelatine-coated remoistenable tissue and rehoused in archival folders, ready for digitisation.