A06_04

Unraveling the history of a Venetian antiphonary.

Rzadeczka - Juga I¹,  Zurbach D¹, Juga P², Nadeau M¹, Løvstrand Svarva H¹, Seiler M¹, Grootes P¹

¹The National Laboratory for Age Determination, NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway, ²Ringve Music Museum, Trondheim, Norway

Complex objects such as old books contain many materials: paper, ink, cardboard, leather, parchment, strings, glues, and metal buckles. Each of which can provide clues to the origin and history of the object.

We present the results of a multifaceted study of an antiphonary – a liturgical song book – presumed to be made in Venice in 1607, now in the Ringve Music Museum in Trondheim, Norway. The book is hand-sewn on raised cords, bound in full leather on cardboard covers originally with metal clamps. The paper block consists of printed pages in black and red ink that include both song texts and music scores. The antiphonary shows several signs of repair including the possibility of re-binding. Different analyses were carried out with emphasis on non-destructive methods. The aim of the project being to confirm the printing date, and possibly its origin, and to document repairs and modifications through the ages.

Both classical and modern methods were used. The origin of the leather, threads and strings were determined by optical microscopy. The elemental compositions of the metal buckle and pigments were established using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The glues used in the spine and for repairs were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) in the hope to identify the collagen source used. Finally, all organic materials were radiocarbon dated, some multiple times to assess the variability of the materials, leading to the reconstruction of the history of this beautiful object.