Research Summary

Degradation of manuscripts catalysed by iron-gall inks in heritage collections poses a severe threat to the world's written heritage. A key point to improve conservation methodologies of writing inks is reconstructing historical recipes using ingredients and methods appropriate to their period. To better understand the iron-polyphenol complexes and their degradation mechanisms and offer new and sustainable conservation treatments, this project focuses on reproducing iron-gall inks based on Arabic black inks from the 9th to the 13th-century recipe books. Historically accurate reconstructions of iron-gall writing inks will be prepared and thoroughly characterised. Selected references will be artificially aged and used to study the causes of colour in iron gall inks and their alteration over time, as well as to test innovative and green treatments that will respect the environment and human health.