Treating Brown Inks: Investigation into the Effects of Aqueous Treatment Methods on the Colour Stability of Bister, Sepia, Iron Gall and Logwood Inks

The effects of selected conservation treatments on brown inks have been investigated using inks prepared following historic recipes and applied to pure cellulose paper. Tests were carried out on both freshly prepared and on artificially preaged samples to enable the evaluation of the effects of ageing phenomena on the colour stability of the inks. The behaviour of the inks was studied by observation of changes occurring during treatment, accompanied by colorimetric measurements before and after the treatments. The goal of this study was to assess the risks posed to objects containing such inks by the selected treatments and to facilitate the design of safe treatment strategies for such objects.