Treatment Methods for Acid-Deteriorated Historic Leathers: Consolidants, Surface Coatings, Stabilizers and Lubricants (A Literature Review)

Document Type : Review paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Cultural Materials Conservation, Tabriz Islamic Art University

2 Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology

3 Department of Conservation of Cultural and Historic Objects, Art University of Isfahan

Abstract

Vegetable-tanned leathers, especially tanned with condensed tannins, are susceptible to acidic conditions due to their degradable nature, leather-making process, and air pollutants. These factors lead to severe degradation of the leather called acid degradation or red rot. Leathers from historical times are subject to acidic degradation, and if left untreated, a large amount of them will be lost. Therefore, leather conservation has long been studied to control acidic degradation. However, due to the poor performance of many treatments, preventing this degradation remains a severe challenge of the conservation of historical leather artifacts. The materials used in the treatment of acid-degraded leathers can be classified into consolidants, coatings, stabilizers, and also, in some cases, dressings and lubricants. However, many of these materials are now obsolete due to their poor performance. Accordingly, the present study has reviewed the literature on the treatments of acid degradation in historical leathers. This paper aims to describe the studies done to date and contribute to future studies.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. G. Bennett, "The manufacture of leather", London, Constable, 1909.
  2. Thomson, "The manufacture of leather", Conservation of leather and related materials, London, Butterworth-Heinemann, 66-81, 2006.
  3. M. Puica, E. Ardelean, "The industrial pollution impact on religious heritage in Romania", Eur. J. Sci. Theol. 4, 51-59, 2008.
  4. L. E. Florian, "Protein facts: fibrous proteins in cultural and natural history artifacts", London, Archetype 2007.
  5. C. Mahony and E. Pearlstein, "evaluation of consolidants for the treatment of red rot on vegetable tanned leather", AIC 42nd Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 2014.
  6. Kozjak, I. Igrec, "Environmental influence on the leather used for book restoration, practical aspects of UV and hydrothermal degradation", International Scientific Conference: Protection of Cultural Heritage from Natural and Man-made Disasters, Zagreb and Šibenik: National and university library in Zagreb, 2014.
  7. Overell, "The ‘red-rot’ problem", La Trobe. J. 73, 101-107, 2004.
  8. W. Waterer, "A novel method for the conservation of fragile leather", Stud. Conserv. 17, 126-130, 1972.
  9. Johnson, "Evaluation of the use of SC6000 in conjunction with Klucel G as a conservation treatment for bookbinding leather: notes on a preliminary study", J. Inst. Conserv. 36, 125-144, 2013.
  10. C. Mahony, "Evaluation of consolidants for the treatment of red rot on vegetable tanned leather: the search for a natural material Alternative", master of Arts, University of California, Los Angeles, 2014.
  11. International Organization for Standardization, "ISO 11799: 2015", Information and documentation -- document storage requirements for archive and library materials, 2015.
  12. Cobham, H. T. Wood, "Report of The committee on leather for bookbinding", London, Published for the Society of Arts by George Bell & Sons, 1905.
  13. C. Lamb, "The deterioration of leather under the influence of gas fumes", j. Soc. Dyers Colourists, 24, 160-166, 1908.
  14. Thomson, "Leather", Conservation science: heritage materials, E. May and M. Jones, Eds, Cambridge: The royal society of chemistry, 92-120, 2006.
  15. Abdel-Maksoud, "Analytical techniques used For the evaluation of a 19th century quranic manuscript conditions", Measurement. 44, 1606-1617, 2011.
  16. L. Florian, "The mechanisms of deterioration in leather", Conservation of leather and related materials, M. Kite, R. Thomson, Eds, London, Butterworth-Heinemann, 36-57, 2006.
  17. G. White, "Passivation polymer bulking versus sucrose impregnation: a cross-methodological approach to the conservation of leather", A senior scholars thesis, texas a&m university. 2008.
  18. Morris, B. Seifert, "conservation of leather and textiles from the defence", J. Am. Inst. Conserv. 18, 33-43, 1978.
  19. Wouters, "Tannin and ion analysis of naturally and actinically aged leathers", STEP Leather Project, R. Larsen Ed, Copenhagen, Royal danish academy of fine arts, 91-106, 1994.
  20. Larsen, "The mechanisms of deterioration. In Fundamental aspects of the deterioration of vegetable tanned leathers", PhD thesis, School of Conservation, The royal danish academy of fine arts, denmark, 1995.
  21. Larsen, "Deterioration and conservation of vegetable tanned leather", STEP leather project, R. Larsen Ed, Copenhagen, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, 165-179, 1994.
  22. Cameron, J. Spriggs, B. Wills, "The conservation of archaeological leather, conservation of leather and related materials", M. Kite and R. Thomson Eds, London: Butterworth-Heinemann, 244-263, 2006.
  23. Koochakzaei, M. M. Achachluei, "Red stains on archaeological leather: degradation characteristics of a shoe from the 11th–13th centuries (Seljuk period, Iran)", J. Am. Inst. Conserv. 54, 45-56, 2015.
  24. M. Creangă, "Novel aspects in leather covers conservation manuscripts from putna monastery", Eur. J. Sci. Theol. 2, 91-97, 2006.
  25. A. B. T. van Soest, B. Hallebeek, "Conservation of Leather", Stud. Conserv. 29, 21-31, 1984.
  26. C. Bowker, E. L. Wallace, "The influence of pH on the deterioration of vegetable-tanned leather by sulphuric acid". J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. 10, 559-565, 1933.
  27. M. Haines, "Deterioration in leather bookbindings - our present state of knowledge", The Electronic British Library Journal, 3, 59-70, 1977.
  28. Witchell, "Interaction of sulphur dioxide with polyphenols, iron and copper and the effect on oxidation", BSc thesis, University of brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom, 2013.
  29. Larsen, J. Wouters, F. Juchauld, A. Blüher, "Bookbinding Leather in the Paper Deacidification Process. Part 1: Analytical Investigation of the Leather", ICOM Committee for Conservation 14th Triennial Meeting, The hague, London, 255-262, 2005.
  30. Lama, A. P. M. Antunes, Y. Fletcher, J. Guthrie-Strachan, K. Vidler, “Investigation of acid deterioration of leather”, Proceedings of the Joint Interim Conference, Multidisciplinary conservation: a holistic view for historic interiors, Rome, 2010.
  31. Lama, A. P. M. Antunes, Y. Fletcher, J. Guthrie-Strachan, K. Vidler, "Investigation of acid-deterioration in leather leading towards finding a suitable product for treatment", 114th Society of leather technologists and chemists (SLTC) conference, Northampton (UK), University of northampton, 2011.
  32. M. Grzywacz, "Monitoring for gaseous pollutants in museum environments", Los Angeles, The getty conservation Institute, 2006.
  33. Kite, R. Thomson, A. Angus, "Materials and techniques: past and present", conservation of leather and related materials, M. Kite, R. Thomson Eds, London, Butterworth-Heinemann, 121-129, 2006.
  34. Sease, "The case against using soluble nylon in conservation work", Stud. Conserv. 26, 102-110, 1981.
  35. Ludwick, "A comparative study on surface treatments in conservation of dry leather, with focus on silicone oil", BA/Sc thesis, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden, 2012.
  36. Wills, "Excavating desiccated leather: conservation problems on site and after", wet and dry leather: current treatment in the conservation of waterlogged and desiccated archaeological leather, B. Wills Ed, London, Archetype, 61-63, 2001.
  37. F. Nikitina, "Conservation and restoration of fur clothes from the burial place of oglakhty", ICOM Committee for Conservation, 5th Triennial Meeting, Zagreb, 1978.
  38. C. Thompson, "An application of bEVA371 to book restoration", the 3rd Pacific Region Conservator's Meeting, 1978.
  39. Kronthal, J. Levinson, C. Dignard, E. Chao, and J. Down, "Beva 371 and its use as an adhesive for skin and leather Repairs: Background and a Review of Treatments", J. Am. Inst. Conserv. 42, 341-362, 2003.
  40. Hallebeek, H. A. B. van Soest, "Gilded leather", ICOM Committee for Conservation, 5th Meeting, Zagreb, 1978.
  41. B. Hallebeek, "The restoration and conservation of gilt leather: part II", conservation within historic buildings. preprints of the contributions to the vienna congress, London, 164-165, 1980.
  42. A. Munnikendam, "Low molecular weight epoxy resins for the consolidation of decayed wooden objects", Stud. Conserv. 17, 202-204, 1972.
  43. Gill, F. Boersma, "solvent reactivation of hydroxypropyl cellulose (Klucel G) in textile conservation: Recent developments", Conservator. 21, 12-19, 1997.
  44. Cains, "Preparation of the book for conservation and repair", New Bookbinder 1, 11-25, 1981.
  45. W. Phillips, "Notes on a method for consolidating leather", J. Am. Inst. Conserv. 24, 53-56, 1984.
  46. Y. K. Lawson, "Examination and conservation of the fifteenth-century parchment manuscript, the belles heures of jean, Duke of berry", Works of art on paper: books, documents and photographs: techniques and conservation: contributions to the Baltimore Congress, 129-134, 2002.
  47. J. Lafrance, "Efficiency and quality in a batch treatment: the Conservation of over a hundred leather shoes and fragments", Proceedings of the 11th ICOM-CC group on wet organic archaeological materials conference, Greenville, North Carolina, 611-621, 2010.
  48. Ahmadi, S. Mallakpour, and A. Koochakzaei, "Evaluating the role of antioxidants in the stabilization of hydroxypropyl cellulose by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy", Prog. Color Colorants Coat. 11, 93-101, 2018.
  49. Ruzicka, P. Zyats, S. Reidell, and O. Primanis, "Leather conservation-bookbinding leather consolidants", in conservation of leather and related materials, M. Kite, R. Thomson Eds, London, Butterworth-Heinemann, 230-232, 2006.
  50. Wills, Y. Shashoua, and D. Sully, "Approach to the conservation of a Mexican saddle andanquera", Stud. Conserv. 37, 179-183, 1992.
  51. Abdel-Maksoud, "An evaluation of selected applied polymers for the treatment of parchment", 15th World Conference on Nondestructive Testing, Roma (Italy), 2000.
  52. G. Gonzalez, J. T. Hiller, N. J. J. Parkinson, K. Thomas, T. J. Wess, "Effects of isopropanol on collagen fibrils in new parchment", Chem. Cent. J. 6, 2012.
  53. Larsen, D. V. P. Somrner, K. M. Axelsson, "Transformation of collagen into gelatine in historical leather and parchment caused by natural deterioration and moist treatment", Proceedings, 5th Freiberg Collagen Symposium, Alte Mensa, Freiberg, Germany, 121-128, 2012.
  54. P. Veitch, R. W. Frey, L. R. Leinbach, "Polluted atmosphere a factor in the deterioration of bookbinding leather", J. Am. Leather. Chem. As. 21, 156-176, 1926.
  55. W. Frey, F. P. Veitch, "Preservation of leather bookbindings", Leaflet (United States. Department of Agriculture) 69, 2-8, 1930.
  56. M. Haines, "The conservation of leather bookbindings. adhesives and consolidants", IIC preprints of the contributions to the paris congress, London, 50-54, 1984.
  57. The National bureau of standards, "Influence of natural non-tannins on deterioration of leather", J.Franklin Inst. 228, 382-383, 1939.
  58. R. Innes, "The deterioration of vegetable tanned leather on storage", J. Soc. Leather Trades' Chem. 14, 624-640, 1930.
  59. Hallebeek, "Leather lubricants and buffers. recent advances in leather conservation", Proceedings of a refresher course, Washington DC, 42-46, 1985.
  60. C. Bowker, E. L. Wallace, J. R. Kanagy, "Influence of magnesium sulphate on the deterioration of vegetable-tanned leather by sulphuric acid", J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. 14, 121-131, 1935.
  61. R. Ede, L. W.H., "Sulphur dioxide and vapour phase deacidification", Stud. Conserv. 12, 37-40, 1967.
  62. McCrady, "Experts agree potassium lactate ineffective", Abbey newsletter. 8, 70, 1984.
  63. S. Gottlieb, "A note on identifying bloom on leather bindings", J. Am. Inst. Conserv. 22, 37-40, 1982.
  64. B. Strzelczyk, L. Bannach, and A. Kurowska, "Biodeterioration of archeological leather", Int. Biodeterior. Biodegradation 39, 301-309, 1997.
  65. W. Frey, C. W. Beebe, "The permanence to acid deterioration of vegetable tanned leather retanned with alum", J. Am. Leather. Chem. Assoc. 35, 440-443, 1940.
  66. S. Hollingsworth, "The use of mineral retannage to improve the durability of bookbinding leathers", B.L.M.R.A. Information Document No. 51, 1976.
  67. N. Calnan, "Retannage with aluminium alkoxides-a stabilising treatment for acid deteriorated leather", in The leather conservation centre, conference proceeding, international leather and parchment symposium international Committee of museum (ICOM) arbeitsgruppe, Leathercraft and related objects, Deutsches ledermuseum, Frankfurt, 1989.
  68. Larsen, M. Vest, D. V. Poulsen, U. B. Kejser, "Fibre assessment", in Environment leather project, R. Larsen Ed, Copenhagen: Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, 113 -120, 1996.
  69. Parker, "Re-evaluation of the condition of a previously conserved mexican saddle and anquera (Am.913) FR2003/22", Department of conservation and scientific research, British Museum, London, 2003.
  70. Lama, A. P. M. Antunes, A. D. Covington, J. Guthrie-Strachan, and Y. Fletcher, "Use of aluminium alkoxide and oxazolidine II to treat acid-deteriorated historic leather", J. Inst. Conserv. 38, 172-187, 2015.
  71. Pruneanu, I. Bucişcanu, E. Ardelean, and N. M. Puică, "The influence of oligomeric melamine resin on bookbinding resistance to environmental factors", Eur. J. Sci. Theol. 8, 225-232, 2012.
  72. K. Blaschke, "Lubricants on vegetable Tanned leather: effects and chemical changes", Restaurator. 33, 76-99, 2012.
  73. Chahine, L. B. Vilmont, and C. Rottier," La lubrification: comportement physico-chimique du cuir", Actes du symposium international sur Ie cuir et Ie parchemin, Deutsches Ledermuseum, Offenbach-am-Main, 26-42, 1989.
  74. Chahine, "The protection of leather bookbindings against atmospheric pollution using dressings", Stud. Conserv. 39, 7-7, 1994.
  75. K. Blaschke, "Lederpfl egemittel auf vegetabil gegerbtem LEDER, auswirkungen und chemische veränderungen", Fachgespräch der NRW-Papierrestauratoren, Altenberg / Odenthal, 9-15, 2009.
  76. Library and Archives Canada, "State of the holdings: The Condition of analogue holdings at library and archives canada", (8/7/2015) Available: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/ about-us/modernization/ Documents/ State%20of%20 the%20 Holdings-June%202012_e.pdf, 2012.

 

Journal of Studies in Color World
Volume 11, Issue 3
December 2021
Pages 55-71

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 04 October 2021
  • Revise Date: 23 November 2021
  • Accept Date: 23 November 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics