This 5-days
course, held at “Laboratory of restoration of books and paper artworks” in
Praglia’s Abbey from 10th to 14th July 2017, was tutored
by Gangolf Ulbricht, a high professional master maker of handmade paper.
Gangolf
Ulbricht works in Berlin and produces a several types of paper in a traditional
manner. He deeply knows the history and the manufacturing of paper: from
medieval times to modern machine paper. He also tests new types of modern paper
with different fibres and he collaborates with many contemporary artists. As
for the paper-based restoration industry, he has developed the thinnest,
non-visible restoration handmade tissue in the world: the “Berlin Tissue”.
The course
was divided in two parts: theory (paper history, manufacturing, techniques,
ecc.) and practice (training in manifacture of handmade paper).
The
partecipants were 10 paper restorers from Italy, England, Spain and Ireland.
They learned all the handmade paper process. They started from the knowledge
and processing of the raw materials like hemp, flax, cotton, straw, Manila
hemp, blue jeans.
After these
important initial steps the restorers experienced the entire process of
creating the sheets: from mixing the pulp to the final sizing. For the
knowledge of ancient and modern paper, it was important to observe the original
samples. The restorers tried to recognize the production period of several samples
by observing some details and clues: small spots (dots) and lumps (lentles),
shadows, paper color, fillers and various inclusions.
Later, they
started with the practical session.
They made a
lot of sheets using different moulds (single or double layer, laid or wove) and
a lot of fibres (hemp, flax, straw, cotton, abaca and blue jeans). They tried
to reproduce the original samples (looking at the color and other properties)
mixing different kinds and different concentration of fibres.
The
restorers followed the sequence used by the old handmade paper makers:
preparation of pulps, creation of the sheet on the mould, couching on felts,
pressing and natural air drying.
At the end the
partecipants filled a paper examination record of unknown original samples to
test all their knowledge gained during the course.
Now, the
restorers have the basics to make theirselves handmade paper useful for paper
and parchment restoration.
Alberto Benato and Gloria Biasin
Paper restorers at Laboratory of restoration of books and paper artworks
in Praglia’s Abbey
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| A laid mould with Praglia's watermark |
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| Group work |
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| Paper making |
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| prof. Gangolf Ulbricht |
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| Sewing the watermark |
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| The group of restorers |
