Utility: Bringing a forgotten piece of paper back to life
Difficulty: Average
Cost: Low
Materials:
- Steam humidifier.
- Flour paste or photographic glue.
- A weight of some sort.
- Gloves, tweezers.
- And plenty of patience and delicacy.
Steps:
1. First check the damage and bear in mind the value of the parchment. If it is extremely valuable it is best to leave it to the experts. If it simply a curiosity or has mere personal value it�s time to get to work. Check for mould, creases or breakages. Each have a remedy.
2. If the parchment has hardened, you must use the steam humidifier to soften it, never wet it directly. This is a slow process because the parchment is usually made of a hard material. Repeat the operation until it can be bended easily. If there are still deformations apply a heavy weight to see if you can flatten the document after humidifying it. Once dry the parchment should once again be flat. If the document is large you can use a Perspex sheet with a weight on top. When the parchment is large you can place it in a silk cloth and slip it within the pages of a book with a weight on top.
3. If the parchment is cracked or torn it can be restored with flour paste or good photographic glue. Join the gaps with great care using tweezers, especially if there are illustrations involved. The job will be easier if the document is cracked at the sides only.
Advices:
- Never give up on items you find in grandmother�s attic or trunk. Even if they are not particularly valuable in terms of money, they can be of great sentimental value, especially if you can recover something considered lost.
- If the parchment is not too large it can be framed between two sheets of glass, and will look great in any bedroom. |
