Collections Online | British Museum

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Treatment; 19 Jan 1989; Remove surface coating, remove brown paper backing, reline.; Western Art on Paper

Reason: Storage
Description: Surface coating tested for solubility in Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol), applied with swabs. Result: soluble in Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol). Adhesive layer between secondary supports tested for starch. Result: Positive. Applied Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol) with sotton swabs in order to remove coating. Discolouration and surface coating removed. Bloom(?) appeared on drying. Testeted with acetone for removal. Result: Not sucessfull. Separated from whole by cutting through secondary support with scissors. Applied Kuranai Japanese tissue as a facing tissue using HMG Paraloid B72 (methyl ethyl methacrlylate) 10% in Acetone. Secondary support removed by using wet blotting paper method. Residual adhesive removed by swabbing with water - tested for starch. Result: Positive. Immersed in water for several hours. Discolouration removed. Pressed. Repaired with Sekushu-shi Japanese paper and wheat starch paste. Facing removed using acetone. White bloom(?) remaining. Bloom(?) tested for solubility with: Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol), Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone), Amyl Acetate, 1:1:1 Trichloroethane + Acetic acid 2% in water. Results: Unsuccessful. Tested solubility with EDTA disodium salts 2% in cotton swabs. Result: Partially successful. Applied 1:2 dichloroethane with swabs. Result: Not soluble. Immersed in IMS for several hours. Bath changed 3 times. Dark orange bloom discolouration removed. On evaporation, surface coating and bloom still apparent but considerably lessened. Treatment repeated. Final Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol) rinse pale yellow colour. Faced with eltolene tissue using Paraloid B67 (polyisobutylmethylacrylate) in acetone applied with brush. Applied damp blotting paper under glass and weight for 2 hours. removed brown paper backing with tweezes. Residual adhesive very thick and discoloured. Removed some by scraping with a scalpel. Applied Laponite RD (sodium magnesium lithium silicate)and repeated scraping. result: drew out some discolouration and psate but only partially successful. Placed face up on a washing screen and washed for 1/2 hour. Removed and repeated scraping. Dried and pressed. Lined on Usumino 2 toned Japanese paper using Japanese method with wheat starch paste. Dried on wooden board. Removed with scalpel. Facing tissue removed by immersion in acetone using tweezers. More yellow discolouration/varnish also removed. Delamination consolidated with wheat starch paste. Pressed. Mounted between glass bound with Scotch magic Tape No 810.
Details: Treatment

1 related objects

papyrus

Museum number: EA10036 |
Cultures/periods: x14627 Third Intermediate |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

Free entry

Opening hours