Restoration and Art Binding
The Service of Restoration and Disinfection intervenes in the framework of curative storage of Archival documents through their restoration and binding at the levels of restoration laboratory and binding workshop, following the scientific and practical stages for saving damaged archives fonds, which are :
Visual diagnosis:
It consists of visualizing the visible damage on all aspects of the document; its shape and physical state, then noting them as preliminary observations in order to begin the analysis stages.
Microbiological diagnosis:
This step is considered as the starting point for the treatment of the apparent traces of the document and the state it has reached as a result of several biological factors (bacteria, fungi), it consists of:
- sterilizing the analysis area using a Bunsen burner to eliminate the bacteria present in the air;
- preparing the culture medium in a Petri dish with taking into account the flexibility of moving the sample from the surface of the document towards the culture medium;
- taking samples: a medium suitable for the growth of bacteria and fungi is prepared in the incubator for a period of 3 to 7 days maximum;
- taking a microscopic reading and recording the results;
- after reading and examination, proper sterilization is determined based on the type and degree of infection of the document with bacteria and fungi.
Sterilization
Chemical Diagnosis
- Ink solubility test in water and alcohol: this operation determines the method to be used for restoration; as for ink affected by water, it is restored manually with Japanese paper, while fixed ink can be restored mechanically with paper fibers.
- Measure the acidity level using a pH meter or reagent paper (the acidity level should be moderate).
Physico-chemical treatment
- Acidity treatment: if the pH is high, the treatment becomes necessary. For fixed ink, acidity is treated using the following solutions:
– Calcium hydroxide.
– Magnesium hydroxide
- Reinforcement of worn sheets with special glues, such as Methylcellulose or Japanese transparent paper;
- Preparation of the coloring medium for the Japanese paper used in the restoration operation with respecting the principle of material compatibility using natural materials, such as coffee and red tea.
Cleaning
After its sterilization, the document is subjected to cleaning using tools and products applied to the surface. There are two types of cleaning:
Dry cleaning
This is done using an eraser, a scalpel and a soft brush, to remove insect plankton and dust.
Wet cleaning
It is done using distilled water or pure alcohol, complying with the rule of ink dissolution.
Cleaning is a chemical and physical reaction that can remove dirt. It requires scientific expertise and has an important role in extending the life of the document.
The principles of restoration
Restoration is subject to several main principles, the most important of which is strict respect of the document so that it is not further damaged or falsified. The restorer must therefore respect and focus on the following principles:
- Preserving the originality of the document at all stages of the work.
- Respecting the priority of restoration.
- Not making changes to the text, nor corrupting it or adding elements to it, because the aim of the restoration is not to decorate or modify, but rather to preserve and strengthen the document and eliminate the causes and problems that led them to the state in which it was found.
- The restorer’s intervention must be clear and reversible.
- Trying to use as few chemicals as possible.
There are two types of restoration:
Manual restoration:
Restoration is essentially a special manual operation linked to the power of control, the skill of work and the aesthetics of treating historical materials in general and manuscripts in particular, using special tools. Despite scientific and technical development, it is still known that manual restoration is the most expensive; it is a rare métier in the world and which aims to restore the soul of precious manuscripts and bring them back to their original form, the same goes for valuable publications and documents.
Mechanical restoration:
Mechanical restoration is practiced on a limited basis for manuscripts. It is done using a special device. The idea of the device used is based on the use of cellulose fibers dissolved in water, calculating their weight and surface area, then sucking this mixture into the holes and missing areas, to form areas of paper. Next comes the drying stage for a specific period of time.
Binding
The operation of binding begins once the restoration of the document is completed. The sheets are collected in the form of notebooks or binders and are sewn together to form the mass of the manuscript. The binders or manuscripts are glued with glue then they are lined, bound with a cover and interlaced on the heel side.
The binding process goes through several stages that are summarized as follows: perforating the document first then comes the sewing stage, then the manufacture of the cover which is made of cardboard and leather and finally, the essential step of gathering the document and placing it inside the cover and preparing it for the process of gilding and writing the title and what follows, this step is not only necessary, it is an aesthetic luxury that reflects the authenticity of the document.