Ines Jesche. An archaeological book discovery. Dating according to a computertomographic analysis. A book was enclosed as burial object of a catholic funeral in the church of the Cistercian monastery of Bebenhausen. It was discovered in 2008 during archaeological excavations. The main task of the assignment was the determination of age of the Codex by analysis of the computertomographical measurements of the frozen Codex. The dating refers to the inscription of the binding and historical relations of the monastery-use. Material analysis through visual inspection and microchemical tests complete the description of the Codex. The discription of the binding was supplemented by an accurate replica. Also important was the monitoring of the Codex conservation, by using treatment for wet archaeological-findings. The main parts of the Codex – leather of the cover, wooden boards and bookblock – were separated and impregnated with the preservative polyethylen glycol and then freeze-dried. The privatly owened Codex from the dead person was a object of utility. The Wooden Boards Codex with the dimensions 10 x 15 cm was bound completly in calf- or oxleather and was equippeded with a three-sided gilt edging. Originally the boards were equippeded with some bookfittings. The manufacturing of the Codex dated of the beginning of the 17^th century. Publication: I. Jesche, Andrea Pataki-Hundt, Irene  Brückle. Ein archäologischer Buchfund: Datierung anhand einer computertomographischen Untersuchung, Arbeitsblätter des Arbeitskreises Nordrhein-Westfälischer Papierrestauratoren (2012): 149-156. Information: Poster pdf

Lena Niehus. Diminishing the risk of hydrogen peroxide bleaching in the presence of iron ions in paper. Bleaching with hydrogen peroxide can cause massive degradation of cellulose in the presence of iron ions in the paper and can lead to brightness reversion. A treatment has to be found to reduce these risks by removing or complexing the iron ions prior to bleaching. Seven pretreatments were tested on two historic rag papers with different iron content. The deacidification with calcium hydroxide and magnesium bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium phytate, the chelating agent diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in combination with calcium hydroxide or magnesium bicarbonate, and hydrochloric acid were compared. Molecular weight and corbonyl group content were measured with fluorescence labelling in combination with gel permeation chromatography to evaluate the degradation of the cellulose. Brightness reversion was checked by colour measurement. Measurements were conducted before and after treatment and after accelerated aging. Accelerated aging was performed in a sealed system in a pile at cycling temperature (20°C-80°C) every three hours for six weeks. None of the treatments were able to completely prevent the degradation of the cellulose, but most of them could reduce the risks. The two papers showed different results. But DTPA in combination with calcium hydroxide was most promising for both papers, whereas magnesium phytate turned to be inappropriate. The pretreatments influenced the brightness and the colour of the paper after bleaching. In a second series of tests the influence of rinsing after bleaching on brightness reversion was investigated using another historic paper. Thorough rinsing of the bleaching agent proved to be essential for reducing the risk of brightness reversion. Publication: L. Niehus, Ute Henniges, Monika Horsky, Thomas Prohaska, Antje Potthast, Irene Brückle, Reducing the Risks of Hydrogen Peroxide Bleaching in Presence of Iron Ions in Paper, 33, 3-4 (2012): 356–394.

Anaïs Ott. Documentation and conservation of a small box made of glass and decorated paper. A heavily damaged small box made of glass and decorated paper had to be treated. The object was to be prepared for an exhibition in order of the owner, the Mainfrankisches Museum Wurzburg. The artifact was documented, examined and cleaned. The object was mainly mechanically damaged by breakage of glass. The adhesives Epo-TekR 301-2, ParaloidR B 72 and Mowiol 4-88 were tested on broken glass samples through assembly by capillary action and peace-by-piece assembly. Finally, the adherence of the glass was performed with a 15% solution of ParaloidR B 72. Two deformed ground boards were straightened to ensure that the drawer opens in a better way. Methods to dye Japanese paper and to adhere paper on glass were tested. Losses and tears of the decorated paper were closed with dyed paper. A packaging was adjusted to the object for the long-term storage after the conservation.

Antje Penz. A manuscript globe (around 1700). Documentation, analysis and conservation. Manuscript-globes like the terrestrial globe of the Justus-Liebig-University in Gießen have pride of place in an outstanding way. They are individually manufactured and frequently of anonymous provenance. By x-radiography and fluorescence-microscopy of cross-sections it was possible to demonstrate that this terrestrial-globe of Gießen shares conformable features with other globes, but also divergent details of the internal structure. However, infra-red spectroscopy, microchemical tests and fibre analysis of the paper showed a traditional composition of materials. Concerning the date determination, an extensive comparative study of the map was helpful. Pertaining to the object’s history only assumptions could be investigated but based on that causes for deterioration and their sources could be clarified. On this basis and by balancing the globe’s values the restoration’s dimension was formulated. The processing showed that close cooperation of conservators with different specialities is essential. Because of the handwritten map the conservation was restricted. Nevertheless, the globe is now available for scientific purposes for the first time. Furthermore, it was possible to contribute to the understanding of the characteristics of manuscript globes due to this comprehensive object description.