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Technical Note on Treatment Options for Iron Gall Ink on Paper with a Focus on Calcium Phytate

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Technical Note on Treatment Options for Iron Gall Ink on Paper with a Focus on Calcium Phytate Technical Note on Treatment Options for Iron Gall Ink on Paper with a Focus on Calcium Phytate Sherry Guild, Season Tse and Maria Trojan-Bedynski Journal of the Canadian Association for Conservation (J. CAC), Volume 37 © Canadian Association for Conservation, 2012 This article: © Canadian Conservation Institute, 2012. Reproduced with the permission of the Canadian Conservation Institute (http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/imprtnt-eng.aspx), Department of Canadian Heritage. J.CAC is a peer reviewed journal published annually by the Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property (CAC), 207 Bank Street, Suite 419, Ottawa, ON K2P 2N2, Canada; Tel.: (613) 231-3977; Fax: (613) 231- 4406; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.cac-accr.ca. The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors, and are not necessarily those of the editors or of CAC. Journal de l'Association canadienne pour la conservation et la restauration (J. ACCR), Volume 37 © l'Association canadienne pour la conservation et la restauration, 2012 Cet article : © l’Institut canadien de conservation, 2012. Reproduit avec la permission de l’Institut canadien de conservation (http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/imprtnt-fra.aspx), Ministère du Patrimoine canadien. Le J.ACCR est un journal révisé par des pairs qui est publié annuellement par l'Association canadienne pour la conservation et la restauration des biens culturels (ACCR), 207, rue Bank, Ottawa (Ontario) K2P 2N2, Canada; Téléphone : (613) 231-3977 ; Télécopieur : (613) 231-4406; Adresse électronique : [email protected]; Site Web : http://www.cac-accr.ca. Les opinions exprimées dans la présente publication sont celles des auteurs et ne reflètent pas nécessairement celles de la rédaction ou de l'ACCR. 17 Technical Note on Treatment Options for Iron Gall Ink on Paper with a Focus on Calcium Phytate Sherry Guilda, Season Tsea and Maria Trojan-Bedynskib aCanadian Conservation Institute, Department of Canadian Heritage, 1030 Innes Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M5, Canada; [email protected]; [email protected] bLibrary and Archives Canada, 625 Boulevard du Carrefour, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0N4, Canada; [email protected] This technical note presents treatment options for works on paper inscribed with iron gall ink. The note consists of a flow chart with accompanying text that summarizes key points regarding the evaluation, examination and treatment options available for iron gall ink on paper. It is presented here as a précis of treatment considerations and is intended to be used as a practical laboratory tool. La présente note technique indique les mesures de traitement des œuvres sur papier contenant de l’encre ferro-gallique. La note comporte un diagramme et un texte explicatif qui résume les principaux points des mesures d’évaluation, d’examen et de traitement disponibles pour les œuvres sur papier contenant de l’encre ferro-gallique. Elle constitue un précis des considérations de traitement et devrait être utilisée comme outil de laboratoire pratique. © Canadian Conservation Institute, 2012. Published by CAC. Manuscript received January 2011; revised manuscript received August 2012 Introduction Artifact Examination Treatment protocol for works on paper inscribed with iron gall The decision to treat is undertaken after an examination of the ink has evolved over the last 15 years. Research has shown that artifact in conjunction with a thorough evaluation of the risks and the calcium phytate/calcium bicarbonate method, first suggested benefits of any treatment. The conservator must consider if the for treating ink-corroded manuscripts by Neevel in 1995, is an associated risks outweigh that of no treatment or the problem of effective aqueous method to prolong the lifetime of ink corroded inherent vice posed by the iron gall ink. Even if a treatment is objects.1,2,3 The treatment has become a standard treatment option deemed beneficial, its viability is determined by the following for works with iron gall ink in paper conservation labs and factors: studios. • the presence of historical elements that cannot be removed Even so, the examination, evaluation and treatment of works • its format and/or condition of the artifact with iron gall ink involve a complex set of procedures. Several • the presence of elements such as signatures, notations, very comprehensive treatment protocols have been published that stamps or seals are extremely useful to conservators for detailed description of • the availability of expertise, time and equipment to carry out each treatment step, as well as information pertaining to the risks the treatment and benefits of each option.4,5,6 This technical note provides a succinct summary of possible examination and treatment steps in These factors help to determine the feasibility as well as the the form of a visual map or outline7 (see following page) with nature and extent of any interventions. explanatory text and relevant references below. The purpose of this note is to help experienced paper conservators when treating Diagnostic Procedures works with iron gall ink. It is not a substitute for comprehensive reading or training in the treatment of objects with iron gall ink. An important part of the decision whether to treat an object is based on results from the examination and evaluation of the ink Preventive Measures and paper substrate to estimate the risk of further ink corrosion. The diagnostic tools and factors used to evaluate the condition of The use of an aqueous treatment for iron gall ink will have side the artifact and the ink include: effects, either visible or invisible, which may affect the long term preservation of the object.8,9 Furthermore, the conservator should • ICN condition rating for paper objects with iron gall ink be cognizant that some information that is inherent in the based on visible progress of degradation published in material aspect of the artifact such as the ink and paper will be 200011,12,13 altered as a result of these treatments.10 Therefore, preventive • Bathophenanthroline Fe(II) indicator paper to detect the measures (careful handling, interleaving, copying and/or cool dry presence of iron(II) ions11,14,15 storage), local repair, mechanical stabilization and minimal The test is an indicator of potential risk of oxidation intervention are the preferred alternatives to any aqueous or non- catalyzed by corrosive free Fe(II) ions. Inks that test very aqueous treatment of works on paper inscribed with iron gall ink. positive,16 indicating a lot of free Fe(II) ions, are potentially J.ACCR, vol. 37, 2012, p. 17-21 18 Treatment Options for Iron Gall Ink on Paper This flow chart is a summary of treatment options for iron gall ink on paper with a focus on calcium phytate. It highlights key treatment steps and presents treatment tips. It provides experienced paper conservators with a visual map or outline of examination and treatment steps to consider when treating works with iron gall ink. It is not a substitute for literature review and training in the treatment of objects with iron gall ink. Refer to the conservation literature for detailed description of treatment protocols. •ICN condition 1: light or no brown •ICN condition 2 & 3: dark brown • ICN condition 4: physical damage discolouration at inked areas discolouration at the inked areas with serious loss of substrate •Fe(II) ion test < 25 •Fe(II) ion test >25 • paper is brittle •pH of paper > 5.5 •pH of paper < 5.5 •thin and/or light colour ink lines on •thick and/or dark ink lines on thin thick paper paper High risk of loss from mechanical •paper is not absorbent •paper is absorbent damage Risk of further damage from improper handling. The priority to mitigate the risk of mechanical damage increases relative to the need to mitigate further corrosion. Low risk of further ink corrosion Some risk of further ink corrosion Treatment options are limited due to Treatment may not be required. fragility of artifact. Consider mechanical Evaluate treatment options. Consider cool dry storage. stabilization, copying, interleaving and cool dry storage. Treatment Options The treatment options described below may not be appropriate for all works on paper containing iron gall ink. For some, minimal treatment (mechanical stabilisation) or preventive measures (interleaving, copying and/ or cool, dry storage) may be preferred. Prior to treatment, test ink solubility: alkaline water, ethanol (EtOH), EtOH/water, calcium phytate, calcium bicarbonate. If the ink is soluble in water but not soluble in EtOH: test with EtOH modified solutions of calcium phytate and calcium bicarbonate. Treatment application methods: immersion, and overall or local treatment and application of solutions on the paper suction table. Ink is not soluble in Ink is slightly soluble in water, not Ink is soluble in water and EtOH water or EtOH soluble in EtOH OR other factors preventing chemical treatment, e.g. artifact •pre-condition with EtOH or EtOH •pre-condition with EtOH format, condition, resource and water •wash or spray on suction table availability •wash in alkaline water with alkaline water and EtOH •non-aqueous deacidification •immerse in calcium phytate •immerse or spray on suction table •repair or line with gelatin •immerse in calcium bicarbonate with EtOH diluted calcium phytate remoistenable tissue or solvent •partially dry on suction table and •immerse or spray on suction table reactivated tissue finish drying in a blotter stack or with EtOH diluted calcium Treatment Tips dry only in a blotter stack bicarbonate •partially dry on suction table and To prevent lateral migration of soluble acids •size with gelatin and iron ions, AVOID humidification or local finish drying in a blotter stack or wetting of objects with iron gall ink. •repair or line with gelatin dry only in a blotter stack remoistenable tissue or solvent Fe(II) ion indicator paper should be used to monitor completeness of phytate treatments.
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