Historic parchment
Research on historical parchment and artistic resources in the field of heritage science The project examines animal skin parchment and art materials, focusing on the challenges of heritage science and conservation and restoration. It focuses on the degradation of parchment, in particular in the presence of ferrotannin inks and copper pigments, and on understanding these processes to improve its durability. Research will include the optimisation of non-invasive methods such as vibrational spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging, and the use of advanced techniques including 2D/3D LA-ICP-MS, DESI-MS and SELEX-aptamers. The project will also test stabilisation procedures with antioxidants, in particular quaternary ammonium halides in anhydrous methods. By combining theoretical and experimental approaches, the project will enable a more comprehensive understanding and analysis of cultural heritage objects.
BASIC DATA
Basic project
Title: Heritage Science Research on Historic Parchment and Artists’ Materials
Duration: 3 years (1.3.2026 - 28.2.2029)
Code: J1-70020
Project leader: dr Klara Retko (SICRIS, ORCID, Google Scholar)
Financial resource: Public Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia (ARIS)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION / ABSTRACT
This project focuses on cultural heritage objects made from animal skin-based parchment and artists’ materials, with a particular emphasis on the challenges of heritage science research and conservation. It addresses the degradation of historic parchment, especially those containing artists’ materials with transition metals, such as iron gall inks and copper-based pigments. These materials possess corrosive properties, and when combined with environmental factors, they accelerate the degradation of numerous historic documents and artworks, including those on parchment.
A thorough material characterisation of cultural heritage is essential for understanding its composition and degradation. Given the fragility of these objects, analyses must prioritise non-invasive and non-destructive methods. However, these approaches alone may not fully explain the complex chemical interactions driving degradation or effectively identify the degradation products in such heterogeneous cultural heritage. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is required, integrating the development of novel tools and techniques alongside improvements to existing methods.
In this project, original historic parchment from the National and University Library (Slovenia) and the Austrian National Library, along with sacrificial historic samples from the University of Ljubljana (Heritage Science Laboratory) will be selected for the study.
The project aims to advance the understanding of material characteristics of historic parchment and its preservation by exploring the interaction between artists’ materials (such as paints and inks) containing transition metals and parchment, supported by theoretical studies. Non-invasive analytical methods, particularly vibrational spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging, will be improved for parchment analysis. The project will also introduce cutting-edge techniques, including 2D and 3D Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and Desorption Electrospray Ionization coupled with high-resolution Mass Spectrometry (DESI-MS), to expand the range of analytical approaches for characterising and studying the degradation of historic parchment. Additionally, chemical imaging using DESI-MS will be employed to visualise the distribution of degradation products. SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) custom-designed aptamers will be applied to deepen the study of parchment degradation. The integration of data-driven approaches with both theoretical and experimental methods will enable a comprehensive analysis of cultural heritage objects. This project aims to provide a mechanistic understanding of parchment and artists’ media degradation, ultimately contributing to the development of improved stabilisation techniques for the long-term preservation of historic parchment.
Compared to paper conservation, methods for stabilising historic parchment have not advanced significantly. Many aqueous methods, effective for paper treatment, cannot be applied to parchment due to its high sensitivity to water. Meanwhile, non-aqueous methods have either proven ineffective or have not been adequately tested. Within the framework of stabilisation, this project will test, explore, and improve stabilisation procedures using antioxidants, particularly various quaternary ammonium halide antioxidants, through different non-aqueous application methods.
OBJECTIVES
The overarching goal of this project is to enhance the knowledge of historic parchment degradation and prolong its longevity. To achieve this, we will examine parchments with signs of corrosion and degradation, including those from institutions such as the National and University Library (Ljubljana, Slovenia), the Austrian National Library (Vienna), and the University of Ljubljana (Heritage Science Laboratory), as well as model samples replicating the original composition. Our goal is to complement non-invasive analytical procedures by implementing innovative analytical techniques (2D, 3D LA-ICP-MS, DESI-MS, aptamers) alongside mathematical/theoretical studies. This comprehensive approach will enable in-depth characterisation of the artefacts and analysis of degradation processes,
approach will enable in-depth characterisation of the artefacts and analysis of degradation processes, ultimately laying the groundwork for developing effective stabilisation methods.
| The specific research objectives are the following:
OBJECTIVE 1: Determination of material composition of parchment with artists’ materials (WP2) OBJECTIVE 2: Understanding and modelling of degradation of parchment with artists’ materials (WP3) |
OBJECTIVE 3: Development of non-aqueous stabilisation methods for historic parchment (WP4)
Figure 1: a) Example of suspected IGI decay on parchment from the Black Prayer Book (Austrian National Library Codex 1856, f. 72v-73r), featuring a miniature of the crucifixion, mounted between polyacrylate plates. Photo: Christa Hofmann, Austrian National Library. b) Example of an illuminated manuscript written with various inks on parchment, from two locations within Codex Ms 51 (National and University Library (NUK), Slovenia). Photo: Maj Blatnik, NUK.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK PROGRAMME
The project consists of four work packages (WPs): WP1 focuses on administration (management and dissemination), while WP2, WP3, and WP4 cover research and development. Each WP includes tasks (T), with interdependencies shown in the Pert diagram (Fig. 2). Project partners include ZVKDS (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia), UL FKKT (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology), and NUK (National University Library, Slovenia).
Figure: Project information flow (Pert diagram).
The project will be implemented executing the tasks within each WP.
WP1 Coordination and project management
Task 1.1 Project coordination, management and reporting
Task 1.2 Dissemination of results in scientific and professional journals, and conferences
WP2 Characterisation of cultural heritage objects on parchment
Task 2.1 Selection of historic parchment samples and analytical research planning
Task 2.2 Analytical investigation of historic parchment samples with focus on vibrational spectroscopy and microbiological research
Task 2.3 Use of novel analytical approaches for historic parchment investigation with 2D,3D LA-ICP-MS and DESI-MS
Task 2.4 Hyperspectral imaging of historic parchment samples
WP3 Degradation of parchment and its interaction with artists’ materials
Task 3.1 Model sample preparation and artificial aging
Task 3.2 Characterisaton of model samples and investigation of degradation with standard analytical techniques
Task 3.3 Optimisation of parchment investigation by vibrational spectroscopy
Task 3.4 Development of novel analytical approaches with DES-MS in combination with 2D,3D LA-ICP-MS
Task 3.5 Development of novel analytical approaches with aptamers
Task 3.6 Computational modelling from first-principles of static properties
WP4 Stabilisation
Task 4.1 Preparation of samples according to stabilisation processes and their accelerated degradation
Task 4.2 Characterisation of stabilised samples
Task 4.3 Computational understanding of kinetic parameters
Task 4.4 Proof of concept
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES DIRECTLY RESULTING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT
There are no published articles from the project yet.
PROJECT TEAM WITH LINKS TO SICRIS DATA
-ZVKDS
- Klara Retko: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/41005
- Lea Legan: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/39944
- Janez Kosel: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/34684
- Maša Kavčič: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/50326
- Matej Huš: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/38950
- Polonca Ropret: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/20865
-UL FKKT
- Matija Strlič: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/8941
- Irena Kralj Cigić: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/10121
- Romana Cerc Korošec: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/9333
- Tjaša Rijavec: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/50181
- Špela Pok: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/55105
-NUK
- Jasna Malešič: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/20383
- Jana Kolar: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/7223
- Martin Šala: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/18819
BASIC INFORMATION ON FINANCING
The project is (co-)funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) with 3210 annual hours in price category B for a period of 3 years. The (co-)funding began on 1 March 2026.
