Mending and Inserts

When the structure of a piece of paper has been damaged and the fibers are bent or separated, they need to be properly mended. This is done by rejoining the edges back together as close to their original orientation as possible.  Methyl cellulose paste and mulberry tissue are the typical tools of choice for mending since this process is easily reversible.  Sometimes when there is a loss of paper in a specific area, such as a missing edge or a hole, it may be prudent to fill the loss by installing a paper insert.  An insert is carefully chosen from our archive of vintage paper or sourced from a manufacturer to closely match the existing support as best as possible.