Fragile Layers: Consolidation of the Painted Designs in Turkey Red Pattern Books
Dissertation Abstract
This dissertation focuses on the consolidation of friable paint on paper in the context of a particular case study concerning pattern books used in the manufacture of Turkey red textiles, on loan to Northumbria University from the National Museum of Scotland. This selection of 15 unbound pages from pattern books feature delicate hand-painted designs, which, due to the high pigment volume concentration (PVC) of the paint as well as the handling of the pages as practical items, have suffered damages in the form of flaking and powdering paint.
High PVC paints present challenging circumstances for consolidation, as the introduction of a consolidant can affect aesthetic changes due to the physical alteration of the paint matrix. In order to begin to asses an appropriate approach, the identity of the paint was examined before a literature review of likely consolidation options was conducted. Samples of paint were examined using ATR-FTIR, and the analysis appears to have evidenced the theory that the red paint is an alizarin lake. An attempt was made to manufacture a similar paint according to an historic recipe. This so-called ‘Turkey red precipitate’ as well as a commercial alizarin gouache were used to make samples for consolidation testing. Based on the literature review, Funori, isinglass, gelatine, Paraloid B72, methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose were selected and various application methods were tested, including brush application, with and without a vapour-saturated atmosphere, and the use of an ultrasonic nebuliser.
The most likely options for the consolidation of the designs were ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose for local applications and Funori in an ultrasonic nebuliser for general applications. However, this conclusion is considered to be a suggestion, as a comprehensive testing of consolidants was not possible due to the global health crisis of 2020/2021.
A copy of the dissertation can be found here. For the password, please contact beth.procopio@gmail.com
