Conservation of Leather and Related Materials (Conservation and Museology)

✍ Scribed by Marion Kite, Roy Thomson

• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 363
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The conservation of skin, leather and related materials is an area that, until now, has had little representation by the written word in book form. Marion Kite and Roy Thomson, of the Leather Conservation Centre, have prepared a text which is both authoritative and comprehensive, including contributions from the leading specialists in their fields, such as Betty Haines, Mary Lou Florian, Ester Cameron and Jim Spriggs.The book covers all aspects of Skin and Leather preservation, from Cuir Bouillie to Bookbindings. There is significant discussion of the technical and chemical elements necessary in conservation, meaning that professional conservators will find the book a vital part of their collection. As part of the Butterworth-Heinemann Black series, the book carries the stamp of approval of the leading figures in the world of Conservation and Museology, and as such it is the only publication available on the topic carrying this immediate mark of authority. * First book to cover the subject comprehensively Wide coverage, including Fish and Reptiles, Taxidermy and Furs, making it invaluable for conservator, curator and collector alike Technical aspects of conservation discussed in full

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
Conservation of leather and related materials......Page 4
Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 12
Dedications......Page 14
Acknowledgements......Page 16
Esther Cameron......Page 18
Sherry Doyal......Page 19
Marion Kite......Page 20
Glen Ruzicka......Page 21
Christopher S. Woods......Page 22
Paula Zyats......Page 23
1 The nature and properties of leather......Page 24
References......Page 26
2.1 The collagen molecule......Page 27
2.3.1 Salt links......Page 29
2.3.2 Covalent intermolecular bonding......Page 30
2.4 Fibril structure......Page 31
2.5 Shrinkage temperature......Page 32
References......Page 33
3 The fibre structure of leather......Page 34
3.2.1 Mature cattle skins......Page 35
3.2.4 Sheepskins......Page 37
3.2.6 Pigskins......Page 38
3.5 Variation in structure with location in the skin......Page 40
3.7 The influence of fibre structure on leather properties, structure and tear strength......Page 42
3.9 Fibre weave and movement......Page 43
References......Page 44
4.1 Introduction......Page 45
4.2 Vegetable tanning......Page 46
4.3.1 Chromium(III) salts......Page 50
4.3.3 Titanium(IV) salts......Page 52
4.4 Oil tanning......Page 53
4.5.3 Oxazolidine tanning......Page 54
4.6.1 Auxiliary syntans......Page 55
4.6.3 Replacement syntans......Page 56
References......Page 57
5.1 Introduction......Page 59
5.2.1 Introduction......Page 60
5.2.3.2.1 Introduction......Page 61
5.2.3.2.3 Autoxidation of lipids......Page 62
5.2.4 Metals and salts......Page 63
5.2.6.1 Types of water in leather......Page 64
5.2.6.5 Relative humidity changes......Page 65
5.3.2.2 Peptide formation in deteriorated leather......Page 66
5.3.3.1 General characteristics of amino acids......Page 67
5.3.3.3.1 Deterioration mechanisms......Page 68
5.3.3.3.2 Amino acid changes in deteriorated leather......Page 69
5.4.3 Analysis of tannins in aged leather – deterioration mechanisms......Page 70
5.5.1 Introduction......Page 73
5.5.3.2 Changes in sulphates and pH in deteriorated leather......Page 74
5.6 Denaturation and shrinkage temperatures as a method of assessment for all tannages......Page 75
5.7 Summary......Page 76
References......Page 77
6.3.1 Ashing test......Page 81
6.4.1 Organoleptic examination......Page 82
6.4.2.1 Shrinkage temperature......Page 83
6.4.2.2 pH......Page 84
6.4.2.3 pH difference......Page 85
6.4.2.5 Fat content......Page 86
References......Page 87
7.1 Tanning in prehistoric and classical times......Page 89
7.2 Tanning in the medieval and post-medieval periods......Page 91
7.3 Tanning in the nineteenth century......Page 96
7.4.1 Pretanning......Page 100
7.4.2 Tanning......Page 103
References......Page 104
8 The social position of leatherworkers......Page 105
References......Page 110
9 Gilt leather......Page 111
9.1 Production and art historical aspects......Page 113
9.2 Conservation and restoration......Page 114
10.3 The origins of the cuir bouilli technique......Page 117
10.5.1 Stability......Page 120
10.6 Case study of the conservation of cuir bouilli leather......Page 121
10.6.2 Removal of inappropriate surface coatings......Page 122
References......Page 124
11.1.2 The knife......Page 126
11.1.6 The dividers (compass)......Page 127
11.1.11 The edge shave......Page 128
11.1.13 The stitch marker......Page 129
11.1.15 The needle......Page 130
11.3 Reinforcements......Page 131
11.4.3 Sewing – stitch formation......Page 132
11.4.6 Decorative machine stitching......Page 133
11.4.7 Seams and construction......Page 134
Bibliography......Page 135
12.2 Objects in use......Page 136
12.5 Handling by the public......Page 137
12.7.1 Environment......Page 138
12.7.3 Storage and display......Page 139
12.12 Saddles......Page 140
12.13 Harness......Page 141
12.14 Screens, wall hangings and sedan chairs......Page 142
Reference......Page 143
13.1.2 1982 Jamieson survey......Page 144
13.1.3 1995 survey......Page 145
13.1.4 2000 list......Page 146
13.2.2 Dry cleaning......Page 147
13.2.5 Humidification......Page 148
13.4 Adhesives......Page 149
13.5 Surface infilling materials and replacement techniques......Page 150
13.8 Dressings and finishes......Page 151
References......Page 152
14.1 A brief history......Page 153
14.3.1 Methods......Page 154
14.4.1 Methods......Page 155
14.4.2 Problems......Page 157
14.5.1 Methods......Page 158
14.5.2 Problems......Page 159
14.6.4 Storage......Page 160
References......Page 163
15.1.1 Introduction......Page 164
15.1.2 Background and history......Page 165
15.1.3 Husbandry and harvesting......Page 168
15.1.4.4 Twentieth century......Page 169
15.1.4.5 Late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries......Page 170
15.2.2 Brief history of fur-skin processing and dyeing......Page 171
15.2.4 Keratin......Page 172
15.2.5.1 Cuticle......Page 173
15.2.6.2 Dressing......Page 174
15.2.6.7 Chrome tanning......Page 175
15.2.7 Dyeing......Page 176
15.2.10 Making up into garments or accessories......Page 177
15.2.10.2 Dropping or stranding......Page 178
15.2.10.3 Sewing......Page 179
15.2.11 Plates and crosses......Page 180
15.3.2 Species identification......Page 181
15.3.4 Conservation methods......Page 182
15.3.4.2 Repair methods......Page 183
15.3.5.1 The conservation of an ermine lining to a blue felt Paquin cape. French, c.1936 (T123-1980) (Figure 15.9)......Page 184
15.3.5.2 The conservation of a Chinese woman’s dragon robe lined with arctic fox fur, c.1800 –1850 (T766-1950) (Figure 15.12)......Page 186
15.3.6 Freezing tests of adhesives......Page 188
15.3.7.1 General storage and display......Page 189
Endnotes......Page 190
References......Page 191
16.1.3 Uses of exotic leathers......Page 193
16.1.5 Tanning and dressing......Page 194
16.1.7 Conclusion......Page 195
16.2 Aquatic skins......Page 196
16.2.2 Structure and identification......Page 197
16.2.3 Fish skin in ethnographic objects......Page 198
16.3.1 Processing......Page 201
16.3.2 Conservation problems with bird skins......Page 204
References......Page 205
17.3 Uses......Page 207
17.6 Decoration......Page 208
17.7.2 Poisons – health and safety issues......Page 209
17.7.4 Cleaning......Page 210
17.7.7 Mounts/internal supports......Page 211
17.7.11 Adhesives......Page 212
References......Page 213
Bibliography......Page 214
18.2 Skin glues and hide glues......Page 215
18.6 Gelatine......Page 216
18.8 Gut membrane......Page 217
18.9 Sausage casings......Page 218
References......Page 220
19.5 Drying......Page 221
Bibliography......Page 222
20.2 Parchment production and use......Page 223
20.3 Chemical, physical and deterioration characteristics......Page 226
20.5 Conservation treatments......Page 232
20.5.2 Cleaning methods......Page 233
20.5.3 Humidification and softening......Page 234
20.5.4 Consolidation of weak parchment......Page 238
20.5.5 Consolidation of inks and pigments......Page 239
20.5.6 Repairs and supports......Page 240
Endnotes......Page 243
References......Page 244
21.2.1 Introduction......Page 248
21.2.2 Klucel G......Page 249
21.2.5 Technique......Page 250
21.2.10 Helical oversewing......Page 251
21.2.13 Making the needle drill bit......Page 252
21.3.3 Consolidants......Page 253
21.4 Solvent-set book repair tissue......Page 255
21.4.5 Conclusion......Page 256
21.5 Split joints on leather bindings......Page 257
21.7 Split-hinge board reattachment......Page 258
21.8.1 Introduction......Page 259
21.8.5 Reattachment of text block and boards......Page 260
21.8.7.1 Fold endurance test......Page 261
21.8.8 Dyeing with reactive dyes......Page 262
21.9 A variation on the board slotting machine......Page 264
References......Page 265
22.1.2.1 Tannage......Page 267
22.2.1 Condition......Page 268
22.2.2.4 Selection......Page 269
22.2.3.1 Solvent dehydration techniques......Page 270
22.2.4 Present-day conservation treatments......Page 271
22.2.4.1 Reshaping and reconstruction......Page 272
22.2.4.3 Composites and special items......Page 273
22.3.1 Condition......Page 274
22.3.2.1 Planning for excavation......Page 276
22.3.3.2 Vegetable tannage test......Page 277
22.3.3.3 Surface features and cross-section......Page 278
22.3.4.5 Consolidation as a first-aid measure on site......Page 279
22.4.1 Condition......Page 280
22.4.4 Treatment......Page 282
22.6 Purpose of treatment: a call for clarity......Page 283
References......Page 284
23 Case histories of treatments......Page 287
23.1.3 Treatment......Page 288
23.2.2 Treatment......Page 291
23.3.2 Treatment......Page 294
23.4.2 Treatment......Page 297
23.5.1 Description......Page 299
23.5.2 Treatment......Page 301
23.6.2 Repairs......Page 302
23.6.3 Cleaning......Page 306
23.6.4 Gap filling and finishing......Page 307
23.7.2 Treatment......Page 308
23.8.2 The set of eight chairs for reupholstering......Page 310
23.8.3.1 Treatment......Page 311
23.8.4.1 Treatment......Page 312
23.8.5 Overview......Page 314
23.9.3.2 Reshaping......Page 316
23.9.4 Future care......Page 317
23.10.2 Treatment......Page 319
23.11.2 Mount instructions......Page 320
23.12.1.1 Hood......Page 325
23.12.2.2 Rear seat......Page 326
23.12.3.2.1 Back......Page 327
23.12.3.4 Front seat......Page 328
23.12.4 Future care......Page 329
23.13.2 Treatment......Page 330
23.14.2 Treatment......Page 336
23.15.1 Description......Page 338
23.15.2 Treatment......Page 339
23.16.2 Treatment......Page 348
23.17.2.2 Nineteenth century gilt leather panel......Page 352
23.17.3.2 Nineteenth century gilt leather panel......Page 354
23.17.4 Future care......Page 356
C......Page 358
E......Page 359
L......Page 360
R......Page 361
V......Page 362
Z......Page 363