Conservation of Indian Miniatures and Illustrated Manuscripts

Conservation of Indian Miniatures and Illustrated Manuscripts is a specialized practical guide to preserving India’s miniature paintings and illustrated manuscript traditions.

Drawing upon more than five decades of the author’s practical and scientific conservation experience, the book examines the materials and techniques used in Indian miniatures, including paper, pigments, gold and iron-gall ink. It explains common forms of deterioration such as foxing, acidity, oxidation, biological damage, structural weakness and damage to painted surfaces.

Detailed chapters address examination and documentation, removal of stains and earlier repairs, deacidification, treatment against biodeterioration, consolidation and lining, retouching, mounting and preventive conservation. The author also considers continuing challenges involving reversibility, written text, artifact identification, environmental monitoring and scientific dating.

The final section presents case studies involving a Jaipur-school painting, an illustrated manuscript leaf, a Persian manuscript, drawings on parchment and the conservation needs of institutional collections.

Written in an accessible manner, this volume will be particularly valuable to conservators, museum professionals, librarians, collectors and students of art history, museology and heritage management.

Author: A. S. Bisht

Publisher: Om Publications

Year: 2008

Language: English

Binding: Hardcover with dust jacket

Pages: 124

ISBN: 81-86867-96-1

ISBN-13: 978-81-86867-96-9

Condition: The interior is in excellent condition. The dust jacket is present and shows visible age-related wear.