Paper conservators know a lot about how paper is made and how it appears when degraded. However, the knowledge needed to describe paper accurately is spread over many fields of expertise: paper history, chemistry, paper chemistry, engineering, microscopy, botany etc. By understanding the intended use of the paper and how papermakers have made their choices over time, conservators can have a better idea how paper is put together. Additional investigation by analysing fibre samples in cross-polarised light retarded by a lambda filter, provides the conservator a quick and reliable insight into the composition of the paper. This project aims to develop a workable technique for this type of analysis.

Supervisors

Em. prof. dr. Jørgen Wadum, UvA

Dr. Henk Porck, Royal Library, the Hague