Paper

Papyrus and Parchment

Papyrus and parchment are two non-paper supports which may appear in your collection.

Papyrus

Papyrus is made from the crushed stems of the papyrus plant. It is much closer in character to paper than parchment.

Because of the presence of lignin and other impurities, it is highly susceptible to deterioration. Papyrus is often extremely brittle and, therefore, vulnerable to mechanical damage.

Talk to a conservator about storing and displaying papyrus items.

Parchment

Parchment is made from the untanned skins of animals such as calves, sheep and goats. Vellum is an especially high grade of parchment. It has been used throughout the history of civilisation to create documents, illuminated manuscripts and works of art.

It is extremely sensitive to moisture and will distort if subjected to high humidity levels. An environment of 45-55% relative humidity is ideal. Parchment naturally has some degree of distortion, but severe distortions can cause damage.

Methods of keeping parchment flat, such as sandwiching between glass or adhering to a backboard, are inappropriate.

Parchment can be stored and exhibited in mounts in the same way as paper items; but deeper mounts are recommended: to allow for movement and to offer extra protection. Polyester strips or corners can be used to hold parchment to the backboard.

More complicated mounting procedures and any repair work should be left to a conservator.

An illuminated manuscript on vellum, mounted for display. Photograph courtesy of the Ian Potter Art Conservation Service, University of Melbourne