Difficult decisions in the conservation of 'The Book of Curiosities', a 13th-century Islamic manuscript

Journal article

A 13th century manuscript purchased by the Bodleian Library contained a series of unique maps of great importance to the history of cartography. Conditions of the Heritage Lottery Fund led to a collaborative project to provide access to the manuscript, including a complex programme of conservation. Compromises had to be made when making difficult decisions regarding the removal of later repairs which affected the physical safety of the manuscript whilst forming part of its cultural history. The extent of the damage and complexity of repair, together with a limited time-scale meant that only a few firm conclusions could be drawn about the production and history of the repair.

Authors: McKay, A; Pugh, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Earthscan Publications Ltd.
• Edition: Publisher's version
• Language: English
• Keywords: authentication; unique maps; Raman spectroscopy; collation; paper; repairs; decision-making; pigments
• Subjects: Laser Spectroscopy; Drawing & decorative arts; History of the book; Islamic art; Geography; Arabic