framing-velum-msg - 4/4/01 Instructions and precautions on framing pieces of vellum and parchment. NOTE: See also the files: parchment-msg, mailng-scrols-msg, calligraphy-msg, bookbinding-msg, inks-msg, paper-msg, seals-msg, writing-desks-msg. ************************************************************************ NOTICE - This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday. This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter. The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors. Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s). Thank you, Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous Stefan at florilegium.org ************************************************************************ Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 12:41:18 -0500 From: Marian Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Framing Vellum Without going into great detail of how I found them (and I really do need to ask my dad when he got them) I found two pieces of music written on vellum, about 14.5" by 22" double sided, non modern musical notation (not being a musician all I can say is not modern I can't date the type of notation) and between the two sheets four multi colored simple capitals stored under ridiculously poor conditions. I'm probably going to follow the recommendation of the framing store employee and just get the proper storage materials for keeping them safe and sound since the proper way of framing sounds a bit out of my budget (though the framing store people are the sort who would let me pay on a weekly basis so it might not be totally out of my budget). The suggested proper way is shaded conservator's glass, and matting on both sides to keep the vellum from touching the frame as well as coming in and having a long discussion with the head framer about what to do about not being able to use glue. So, I'm asking the artisans and collectors on here who may have done this sort of thing before or who know someone who may have: "If you encounted some ancient pieces of vellum with writing on both sides, how would you go about framing it?" -M From: David Razler Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Framing Vellum Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 17:47:26 GMT On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 12:41:18 -0500, Marian wrote: >Without going into great detail of how I found them (and I really do >need to ask my dad when he got them) I found two pieces of music written >on vellum, about 14.5" by 22" double sided, non modern musical notation >(not being a musician all I can say is not modern I can't date the type >of notation) and between the two sheets four multi colored simple >capitals stored under ridiculously poor conditions. > >I'm probably going to follow the recommendation of the framing store >employee and just get the proper storage materials for keeping them safe >and sound since the proper way of framing sounds a bit out of my budget >(though the framing store people are the sort who would let me pay on a >weekly basis so it might not be totally out of my budget). DON'T (sorry for the shout) For the best info on framing old vellum, or any other material call: Conservation Resources International (conservators to Colonial Williamsburg): 800-634-6932 703-321-7730 criusa at conservationresources.com www.conservationresources.com or CR/UK, Conservators by Appointment to Her Majesty Elizabeth II +44 (0) 1865 747755 criuk at conservationresources.com They are the BEST source of both information and supplies Framers don't always know what they think they do. From: Phyllis Gilmore Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Framing Vellum Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 14:44:15 -0800 Organization: RAND Brucianna di Rosenkavaliera wrote: > I have now talked with the head framer who, this being a somewhat > historical town with lots of rich old people (who like to retire here) > actually has some experience working with such stuff and for $120 apiece > I'm getting them framed. I was very impressed by how much the people > there (versus, say the people at the place near my parents) know about > what they are doing. I took my own vellum page (liberated from a bookstall beside the Seine in Paris) to a local framer who was *reputed* to be well versed in keeping the Smithsonian Instituion happy (YMMV). I chose a rather elaborate frame *and* had glass put on *both* sides (the best side goes "out," but you can still see the back). The framing is done so that the vellum can "breath," and the glass is nonreflective. The bill ran over $800. The result is also very heavy, making for interesting hanging logistics. Not bad for something I think I paid something like $60 for in the first place . . . Philippa From: David Razler Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Framing Vellum Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 20:16:31 GMT On Thu, 25 Jan 2001 14:44:15 -0800, Phyllis Gilmore wrote: >in Paris) to a local framer who was *reputed* to be well versed in >keeping the Smithsonian Instituion happy (YMMV). > >I chose a rather elaborate frame *and* had glass put on *both* sides >(the best side goes "out," but you can still see the back). The framing >is done so that the vellum can "breath," and the glass is nonreflective. >The bill ran over $800. The result is also very heavy, making for >interesting hanging logistics. > >Not bad for something I think I paid something like $60 for in the first >place . . . > >Philippa Rather expensive, though I can see why you did it. I am *not* sure about letting vellum breathe - at that price, encapsulation with dry nitrogen or an inert gas might be better protection for the *now* But my worry is what happens when vellum gradually ages (nowhere near as fast as paper - that stuff I know how to handle, from hemp to pulp). If it produces a byproduct that is destructive, similar to lignan to acid in wood-pulp paper, then it needs buffering (don't take this as IT DOES, I DON'T KNOW) The best matting and/or backing that would allow it to breathe and protect it is probably Conservation Restorer's microchamber board, which blocks pollution from coming in with fresh air. dmr Edited by Mark S. Harris framing-velum-msg Page 4 of 4