De Paepe, Anoek,  Genbrugge, Siska & van Es, M. 2019. ‘The use of paper-based materials for the treatment of plant fibers’. Eng-Wilmot, Kira ; Casteneda, Allison ; Frankel, Nora ; Getts, Anne ; Schmitt, Emma ; Urick, Jessica (eds), The textile specialty group postprints 28: 52-66. Washington : Textile Specialty Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). ISSN: 2169-1363.

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

ABSTRACT—The collection of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) in Belgium encompasses a broad range of objects that contain plant fibers. Those plant fibers are sensitive materials that damage easily owing to handling, light exposure, and fluctuations in relative humidity and temperature. Consequently, the fibers of the objects are often discolored, deformed, or broken; multiple objects are actively shedding fibers or suffer from “baldness.” Some plant-fiber objects selected for exhibition in the RMCA were too degraded to be displayed. These plant fibers were treated with paper-based materials in order to stabilize the objects and improve their readability. Multiple products can be grouped under the term paper-based materials, such as Japanese tissue, archival grade paper, and cellulose pulp. These products have specific sets of characteristics that can be used for diverse treatments of objects, ranging from thin protective coatings to structural fills. The versatility of the paper-based materials will be demonstrated through a discussion of several treatments that straddle the disciplines of textile, object, and paper conservation