parchments

Ingredients

lime (CaO, CaCO3, Ca(OH)2), sodium chloride, condensed tannins, collagen

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The parchment preparation involved a dehairing process using lime (CaO, CaCO3, or Ca(OH)2), indicated by high calcium signals in XRF analysis (p. 6). A sodium chloride bath was likely used to prevent skin putrefaction, evidenced by the presence of chlorine (p. 6). ATR-FTIR analysis suggested the use of condensed tannins for pretreatment, indicated by weak shoulders at 1715 cm-1 and 1280 cm-1 (p. 7). Calcite was used at different extents across the manuscripts (p. 2).

Evidence

"The materials initially used in the preparation of the writing supports were identified; in addition to calcite at different extents, the parchments seem to be condensed tannins-pretreated."

Remarks

Two manuscripts (MEK-MS-7LP and MEK-MS-6LP) were investigated. MEK-MS-7LP showed higher acidity (pH 4.75-5.75) and significant corrosion, while MEK-MS-6LP was non-acidic (pH > 6) and well-preserved (p. 7). Collagen alterations such as gelatinization and triple helix disorder were identified via amide I and II band exploration (p. 8). Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) was identified as a degradation product induced by humidity and reactions between ink sulphate ions and parchment calcium (p. 8).