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Treatment; 18 Oct 2001; Relay lifting areas of papyrus onto backing paper.; Western Art on Paper

Reason: Temporary Exhibition
Description: Examined through Mantis microscope prior to removing from mount. Removed glass from recto. The papyrus, backed on heavy white card, is adhered to the backing board in several places. Papyrus and backing were eased away using a large teflon spatula. This caused some loss on the verso of the backing card. The papyrus itself was consolidated by laying down the lifting edge areas with Abra starch (wheat starch) paste. The material is very weak and not adhered to the backing in all areas so to consolidate the whole it was very lightly humidified by spraying with water and pressed dry. The backing was repaired on the verso by infilling the missing areas with cellulose powder mixed with Abra starch (wheat starch) paste, and pressing dry before applying a Japanese paper repair with Abra starch (wheat starch) paste over it. After pressing, the papyrus was examined again under the Mantis microscope to check that all the lifting areas were consolidated. Some small areas were found to be vulnerable where the papyrus was extremely weak and eaten away by previous insect attack. These areas were consolidated with Abra starch (wheat starch) paste, or, where the viscosity of paste made the application of it impossible, Klucel G (3% in Propan-2-ol). Mounted between glass with strips of Purcell Esparto Inlay paper (190 gsm) used as a microchamber paper attached to the glass edges with Abra starch (wheat starch) paste.
Details: Treatment