Abstract

This study focuses on the evaluation and assessment of the condition of a deteriorated illuminated leather binding dated back to the Egyptian Mamluk period (1250-1517 H) at library of Mashiakht El- Azhar, Egypt. Some analytical techniques have been used in order to identify the decorative materials, evaluate the condition, and study deterioration mechanisms of this leather binding. Different microscopes (digital USB, stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX) were used. Additionally, the analysis by portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of elements in the golden layer. Moreover, pHmeasurement, and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis has been used to explain the chemical deterioration of historical leather and to identify the decorative agents. On the basis of investigation by different microscopes, the golden colour on the surface of historical leather cover has been gilded, and not painted. The results of investigation by microscopy for the illuminated and non-illuminated leather parts showed different signs of deterioration such as different kinds of cracks, holes, missing parts, detachment of some parts in the gold layer, fungal hyphae, accumulated dust, fragility of the gold layer etc. The elemental analysis by EDX and pXRF showed that the golden colour mainly consisted of brass with traces of elemental gold. Additionally, the elemental analysis revealed the presence of elemental sulfur which may be due to the air pollutants in the surrounding environmental conditions at Al-Azhar library, Egypt. The analysis by pHmeasur ement and ATR-FTIR revealed that the leather cover suffered from acid hydrolysis mechanisms. Therefore, conservation procedures (conservation treatment and preventive conservation) are needed in the future work.