AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

Paste paper is a style of decorated paper which was first in popular use in Germany and nearby countries as book papers, wall coverings, and furniture linings from around 1600 to the 1830s. Though culturally and technically distinct from more popularly recognized marbled papers, ambiguous terminology and a lack of academic literature have led to confusion and ignorance among both public and specialized audiences. While pigment analysis is a proven provenancing technique for paintings and illuminated manuscripts, this research is the first to address its potential for paste-decorated papers. A bibliographic survey was conducted to catalog color, pattern, and publication/production data for 255 paste paper objects from Harvard University's Rosamond B. Loring Collection and several private collections. 16 of these were selected for an analytical survey involving stereomicroscopy, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and multi-spectral imaging techniques including IR reflectography and false-color imaging. The results mark the first known analytical investigation of historical paste paper colorants, revealing trends in the use of indigo and Prussian blue pigments and additives including alum, chalk, and orpiment. These insights, especially as a supplement to pattern statistics from dated objects, demonstrate the potential for improved characterization of paste papers through material analysis.