400 hundred year old parchment

keiki

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
May 29, 2002
Posts
123
Location
Left FL for IL...
I'm pretty sure how I'm going to mount this page of Gregorian chant and prose. Just wanted some reassurance, I guess. I have taken a quick look in a search but most of the info concerns pressing or float mounting.

My customer has given me latitude in what needs to be done for this with the request that it be viewable from both sides since he will be giving talks on this after he translates and dates this page of Illumination. We are using UV Denglas on both sides unless someone has other suggestions. He wants the clarity or else I would us UV NG acrylic on the back.

I plan to make a "tray" type mount to secure the page on all sides and use no adhesive directly on the parchment. I can't see that the tray mount would be any more restricting than the mats surrounding the parchment. I do have at least an inch on all sides for this.

We have two 8-ply mats for the face side and one or two for the back if there is room in the frame. Finishing the back of the frame has been figured out using a wide flat gold fillet back to back from Larson.

Whatever I come up with, this one has to be done correctly. Thanks for any advice.

Linda, CPF
 
Your design sounds quite good.
The only other concern is moisture (parchment can get moldy in a closed area) If you can slip some silica gel in the package, and seal it up all the way around, That should deal with that.
 
Do you absolutely need non-reflective glazing?

If not, I would consider UV Acrylic instead of glass. It sounds like this piece is going to be handled some and I'd be concerned with glass breakage damaging the document itself.
 
What's a "tray" mount? I've never heard of that, but this old dog could use a new trick.

I'd prefer a lengthly description in nauseating detail, please.

[ 12-16-2003, 12:54 PM: Message edited by: Jim Miller ]
 
Ron, you may be right. I'll probably call the customer and see just how much handling this will get.

Jim, I may be using my own term when I refer to a tray mount. But I plan to fold rag paper and use the crease as a tray along each edge so the parchment will be enclosed on all sides with its mount instead of suspending the work from the top only.
This way there will be less stress on the parchment as it is handled.
 
Acrylic on the back will guard against breakage
that might occur while frame is being hung.
Overmatting the margins of the skin is always a
good idea, since it was given its shape under
significant tension and should not be expected
to remain flat without restraint.

Hugh
 
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