Seminar taught by Dr. Melissa Tedone, Book and Library Conservator for Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library and Associate Faculty for the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC).

Pre-coated repair papers are frequently used by book and paper conservators who utilize the semi-transparent, highly versatile materials on a variety of substrates, including ones that are sensitive to water or have friable surface. The paper can be heat or solvent reactivated and can be custom made for one treatment or bulk prepared and stored for future use. The use of pre-coated papers is one of several materials/techniques that has made its way into the objects lab from paper conservation in recent years.

Typically, long-fibered, acid-free translucent Asian papers are used as the carrier due to their long-term stability and increased tensile strength. Options for adhesives may include synthetics, starch-based pastes, and cellulose ethers. Depending on the materials used, pre-coated paper repairs are inert and can be made fully reversible.

My interest in attending this Library & Archive seminar was to discuss the feasibility of using pre-coated papers for loss compensation on a fully weathered archaeological glass flask from University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology collection. This object is incredibly thin and fragile, making more traditional fill materials (e.g. cast Paraloid B-72, epoxy resins) inappropriate due to their strength. An added benefit of attending this seminar was to hear feedback from colleagues who have experience using these materials and techniques within their own specialization.

View the project file for the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology glass Flask here.