Survey

MS Marlay Sp. 2 detail © The Fitzwilliam Museum

The initial stage of this project was to conduct a conservation survey on the 91 fragments that had been identified as high priority in an earlier curatorial survey. The survey will help to identify the conservation problems the collection and it will then be possible to give the most damaged or vulnerable fragments immediate treatment.

Conducting the survey is also beneficial in allowing me to familiarise myself with the variety and extent of the conservation needs of the fragments. Having taken the time to fill out survey forms about the mounts, substrate and pigments, I will be able to make more informed decisions about the entire collection and how to proceed with treatments.

Box with fragments © The Fitzwilliam Museum

Context of the project

MS 230 iii Fragment historically significant as
an early example of artist signature in lower
right medallion 'W. de Brailes me fecit'

© The Fitzwilliam Museum

About the collection

The Fitzwilliam Museum holds one of the largest and most important collections of fragments from medieval manuscripts in existence. It compromises 500 leaves, full page miniatures and cuttings dating from the 11th through the 16th century CE, and covers a geographical area stretching from Jerusalem to England and from Italy to the Netherlands. They represent devotional, lithurgical, scientific, and literary texts, and works by leading medieval and Renaissance artists. The material includes private collections formed in the 19th century as examples of 'lost art' (i.e. medieval painting).


An initial survey of the collection established that about half the collection need treatment, with 91 selected as requiring 'sustained interventive conservation'. During the project a more extensive survey will be carried out on the selected fragments followed by -as needed- conservation treatment of the parchment, and pigment consolidation. Full rehousing such as re-mounting and re-boxing will follow conservation to ensure the continued protection of the delicate fragments.

Welcome!

MS 194 © The Fitzwilliam Museum 

Welcome to the medieval illuminated manuscripts conservation blog!

My name is Sibel Ergener, the current ICON intern in the Conservation of Manuscripts department at the Fitzwilliam Museum, and I will spend the next 12 months surveying, conserving, and help with remounting a large amount of the collection of medieval illuminated manuscript fragments. This blog will function as a way to document progress of the project, which will proceed with supervision from Kristine Rose, Assistant Keeper (Conservator of Manuscripts and Printed Books), and help from the rest of the Manuscripts Department.

Readers can expect many beautiful photos of the fragments as well as explanation and discussion of conservation problems inherent in mounting techniques, parchment conservation, medieval pigments consolidation, and more.