Conservation Treatment
The condition, of the paper support and all media, of the ketubbah was documented through description and photographs and a treatment proposal was presented, for approval, to Curators in the custodial division. Conservation treatment is always a collaborative process drawing on the expertise and perspectives of a wide range of professionals involved in serving the Library’s mission.
The useful existence of the ketubbah is most threatened by features inherent to its material construction. These threats can be mitigated through preventive conservation care such as controlled environmental conditions, stabilizing housing, and safe handling. Some features which called for conservation attention were small edge tears which could enlarge over time and with use. These tears were mended with a lightweight, strong, and stable Japanese tissue that was materially and aesthetically compatible with the original paper. The mends were adhered with wheat starch paste. In consideration of the water sensitivity of this object, after paste was brushed out on the mend it was allowed to dry somewhat before being placed on the document; once adhered, the mend was further dried by blotting with desiccated blotter paper in order to remove any residual moisture as quickly as possible. The mend was then allowed to completely dry under weight to prevent distortion of the paper.
Left: Edge tears before treatment. Right: Edge after treatment.
The most obvious feature which required attention was something which on first view appeared to be an area of loss which might require aesthetic compensation to keep it from being a distracting disfigurement. Compensation for loss is a standard conservation procedure to repair damage which could compromise the material integrity of an object but which is also used to preserve the aesthetic integrity of an object. Decisions concerning compensation for loss are informed by scientific knowledge as well as familiarity with current ethical practice; compensation for loss as a conservation strategy is not intended to serve as restoration and is carefully documented as part of an object’s history. In this case, examination showed that what initially appeared to be loss of a mediabearing layer of paper was in fact a thin layer of paper which had been “skinned” and, fortuitously, folded down and adhered to an adjacent section of the document. Given how very thin the layer of paper was, and how very soluble the media was releasing, replacing the skinned strip demanded a very controlled and localized introduction of moisture. This was done by very slightly moistening a micro-swab and barely touching it to the adhered strip for a few seconds; this way the strip was released a few millimeters at a time. The skinned area was mended by applying a very light and relatively dry wheat starch paste to the media free skinned area of the sheet, letting the paste dry further, and then adhering the media bearing skinned strip in place and, as above, blotting and then allowing the mended area dry under weight.
Left: Skinned area before treatment. Right: Skinned area after treatment.
Examination, using a microscope, showed that the colored media was lifting, cracking, and flaking in many areas. Consolidation, by application of methylcellulose, helped to reconstitute dessicated binders improving the media’s cohesiveness and adhesion to the paper.
Consolidation under magnification.
In considering treatment of unbound sheets Conservators often must balance the needs of preserving historical evidence of use as well as the needs of preserving material objects. When sheets show planar distortion, because of exposure to moisture and/or because of folding, it may be desirable to humidify and flatten the sheet. Controlled introduction of moisture (either through use of a humidity chamber or damp pack) and controlled drying (in a dry pack and under the appropriate amount of weight) can use the qualities of hygroscopic expansion and contraction to reduce distortion. In this case the sensitivities of the object’s components to water contributed to the decision to reduce the distortion through a short time of humidification. A more thorough reduction or elimination of distortion would have introduced a greater element of risk to the media . Although the residual distortion may put some stress on the paper and media it also preserves artifacts of the customary safekeeping practice which initially preserved the ketubbah.
Left: Non-adhesive attachment. Center: Support structure. Right: Mat structure.
The concluding step in this treatment was to provide a stabilizing support or ‘housing’. In consultation with curatorial staff in the custodial division, it was decided that a housing was required in which the document would be secured but from which it could be removed for study, exhibition, or reformatting.To this end the ketubbah was attached to a support board through a non-adhesive attachment strategy. The edges of the sheet were wrapped in strips of Japanese tissue and these strips were adhered to the support board with gummed linen hinging tape; the edges were further secured with mylar hinges. The support board was then hinged into a mat structure with a back board, window board, and board wrapper. This package secures, stabilizes, and protects the document while providing access for a wide range of purposes.
