Project facts
Presentation
Our knowledge of historic paper and ink is dominated by research on Western papermaking and significantly less is known about paper produced in the Islamic cultural realm. The EU-funded ISLAPAP project will fill this knowledge gap. Specifically, the project will focus on material science research of both sacrificial reference material collections and actual manuscripts and carry out archival research on ink- and papermaking recipes in medieval and early modern art-technological sources and treatises. By exploring the durability of Islamic paper, the project will develop preventive conservation advice. ISLAPAP will also study the typical Islamic papermaking practices of polishing and starch sizing. The findings will be useful for libraries and archives holding Islamic paper collections, as well as for curators, historians and conservators.
Impacts & Results
To carry out archival and historical research of previously un-translated Arabic primary sources and texts focussed on the materials and techniques used in Islamic papermaking and ink production.
To develop scientific methods (destructive and non-destructive) for characterisation of historic Islamic paper and ink samples and artefacts.
To develop knowledge and publish the expertise on methods of characterisation of Islamic paper and ink objects in collections.