1. Brief overview/description of your reconstruction (a few sentences at most)

• The purpose of the reconstruction:

• to understand the entry about tablets.
• to understand the differences between paper, parchment and boxwood when used as a support for metal point writing / drawing.
• to find out whether metalpoint could be used to write on boxwood without a ground.
• to understand the differences between two kinds of ground.
• to examine different erasing techniques.

• Three substrates will be compared: boxwood, paper, parchment.
• For each substrate, two different ground preparations will be used:
  - ground 1: bone ash + saliva;

- ground 2: bone ash + rabbit skin glue.

- In addition, each substrate would have a piece with no ground.

• Each will be written on with two types of silverpoint: pure silver, and silver-copper alloy (12:1)
• Each combination of substrate, ground and metalpoint will be erased with two methods: cuttlefish bone and bread.

2. Main safety and hazard considerations (Fire? Toxicity? Reaction?)

• Bone ash is toxic and could cause serious damage. Do not inhale! Should not be touched with bare hands. Wear gloves, a lab coat, preferably goggles. (fume hood?)
• Lead is toxic and should not be ingested.
• Rabbit skin glue and copper may cause irritation in the eyes - be careful when using them.
• Must handle hot plate with care - not to be burned.

3. Materials

• Include as much information as possible, such as chemical or botanical name, amount needed, source or brand, link to product information, etc. Refer to the Lab Inventory

• If material can be found in the lab already, indicate so and include the information contained in the lab inventory
• If material is not already in the lab, provide a few options to discuss at your Safety Meeting. DO NOT MAKE ANY PURCHASES BEFORE DISCUSSING WITH YOUR INSTRUCTORS

• Boxwood panel - 47 x 97 mm

(Ordered from https://www.lawrence.co.uk/product/boxwood-block )

We cut the block to two (see below), the thickness of one is ~9 mm , the other is ~ 11 mm

Materials from the lab inventory:

• paper - 8 small pieces.  ~6.5 x 6.5 cm
  Since the recipes do not specify which type of paper to use, I would prefer to use:

Paper, BHC 50/50/2 (50% hemp, 50% unbleached cotton), University of Iowa Center for the Book (TALAS) (from the lab inventory) unsized.

• metalpoints: two types of silverpoint: pure silver, and sterling silver (12:1 silver and another metal, usually copper)
• bone ash - 5g. (Source: laguna clay)
• rabbit skin glue [RSG] - 3g
• cuttlefish bone - 2. (Also named - cuttlebone. Source: greatcompanions.com #20341-610)
• parchment - 3 small pieces. (Most likely calf; Source: Alexis Hagadorn, CU Conservation 2016)    ~6.5 x 5.5 cm

Others:

• saliva
• water
• bread^[1] 

4. Tools and equipment

• 1 medium-size pot (for bain marie)
• 1 beaker
• 2 chopsticks / something else to stir with
• 2 brushes
• 1 hot plate
• 1 bowl
• 1 glass thermometer
• 1 scale
• Nitrile gloves
• masking tape
• tongs for taking the beaker out of the bain marie
• 2-3 ceramic plates
• 2 measuring spoons (1 for bone ash, 1 for RSG)
• a vessel for water
• paper towels

5. Workstation setup (Where will you work? How will your workstation be prepared?)

• My workstation would be in the fume hood. I will wear a lab coat, goggles and gloves.

A hot plate would be placed in the fume hood. A thermometer would be next to the hot plate. A pot filled with water would be ready next to the hot plate to be used as a bain marie.
I will organize all tools (above) in the fume hood according to the work outline.

6. Outline of your experiment (Describe all steps in your workflow)

Preparations:

• Consider preparing the boxwood according to Cennini - only if there is enough time to do it a day or two before reconstruction:

Clean the panel with water. Prepare newspapers as a base, on the lab bench. Rub one side of the boxwood with cuttlefish bone to smooth it. Let it dry in the fume hood. Throw cuttlefish bone ash and newspaper to solid waste non-hazardous.

• Divide boxwood block according to diagram below using masking tape.

• Tape 6 pieces of paper to 1-2 plates, on two opposite edges of each piece, to make sure they do not curl when ground is applied.
• Tape 2 pieces of parchment to 1 plate. Decide which side to leave up - fuzzy or not.
• Collect a good amount of saliva in a bowl.
• Leave 1 piece of parchment and 2 pieces of paper on the side - will not have ground applied to them.

Prepare ground 1:  based on Cennini’s recipe (sources for recipes)

• Add 1g of bone ash to bowl with saliva.
• Stir with a stick
• Decided whether to add more bone ash by discretion.

Test consistency:

• Apply to one piece of paper. Examine whether it seems reasonable.
• Make changes in consistency of ground by adding saliva or bone ash to the bowl.
• Apply again to another piece of paper.
• Repeat if needed.

Prepare support with ground 1:

• Apply to the first area of the boxwood - using fingers (as explained by Cennini)
• Apply to one piece of paper (or use the paper with the right consistency from the tests above)
• Apply to one piece of parchment.

Prepare ground 2: based on Alcherius’s recipe with modifications according to reconstruction made this summer see metalpoint workshop

• Add 1g of RSG and 18g of water to beaker in bain marie of cold water; if deciding to add more, keep ratio of 1:18
•  Heat gently, keeping it between 40 and 60 C using thermometer to monitor temperature
• Once the glue has melted and incorporated into the water, Add 1g of bone ash, stirring until uniform.
• Dilute with hot water as necessary to reach consistency of thin cream.
• Take the beaker out of the bain marie.
• Lower temperature of hot pot / turn off.

Prepare support with ground 2:

• Start applying while it is still hot:

• keep the beaker in the bain marie to make sure it stays warm.

• Apply to the second area of the boxwood - using a brush
• Apply to a piece of paper.
• Apply to one piece of parchment.
• Let it dry.

After it is dry - test with one of the metalpoints (following Alcherius’s recipe).

If black marks remain - it’s ready.

If not:

• Make sure that the ground is still soft - might need heat the bain marie again.
• Apply another layer to the mentions supports.
• Let it dry.
• Test again. Repeat coating if needed.

• Leave one area of boxwood with no ground.
• Have one piece of paper and one piece of parchment with no ground.
• Optional - apply grounds to leftover papers.

Writing/drawing:

• If Michael would be present to help me with documenting the process I will ask him to draw according to Cennini’s instructions:

“run the style over the little panel so lightly that you can hardly make out what you first start to do; strengthening your strokes little by little, going back many times to produce the shadows. And the darker you want to make the shadows in the accents, the more times you go back to them;” (p. 5)

• Otherwise I would try to write, maybe in English and Arabic (just because it has a nice script).

How to divide the boxwood blocks:

Keep track of the results in this table:

General observations:

The sterling silver was more similar to a stylus, having a sharp point at one edge, and a little wider point in the other end. Using the pointy edge left mainly fine lines that seemed like scratches. The wider edge was easier to use. The pure silver was a round chunk of silver. Using neither of the metals felt like drawing with a pencil. I found that I need to use a lot of pressure to draw lines with both the sterling silver piece and the pure silver piece.

Don’t forget to take pictures before erasing!

Keep track here:

7. Waste management

• Clean brushes with paper towels before washing.
• Collect water while washing equipment that touched bone ash (brushes, plates, beaker). Water should go to liquid waste hazardous.
• Paper towels, newspapers, masking tape, chopsticks, gloves, should go to solid waste hazardous.
• Any remains of bread or cuttlefish bone powder that touched the ground should go to solid waste hazardous.
• Water from bain marie - if not contaminated by any materials - could go down the drain
• Don’t forget to write the materials on the label of the waste container.

MSDS information

Hazard statements, flashpoints, combustion points, interactions, etc.

Hazard Statements:

• Causes skin irritation.
• Causes serious eye irritation.
• May cause long lasting harmful effects to aquatic life.
• Suspected of causing genetic defects.
• May cause respiratory irritation.
• May cause an allergic skin reaction.
• Avoid contamination with oxidising agents i.e. nitrates, oxidising acids, chlorine bleaches, pool chlorine etc. as ignition may result.
• Non combustible.
• Not considered a significant fire risk, however containers may burn.

Safety precautions

Precautionary statements - Prevention

• Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area - use in fume hood.
• Wear protective gloves, lab coat, eye goggles.
• Avoid breathing dust/fumes.
• Avoid release to the environment.
• Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.

Precautionary statements - Response

• IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention.
• Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
• IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
• IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do.
• Continue rinsing.
• Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
• If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
• If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
• IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.

Waste management

• DO NOT allow wash water from cleaning or process equipment to enter drains.
• It may be necessary to collect all wash water for treatment before disposal.
• In all cases disposal to sewer may be subject to local laws and regulations and these should be considered first.
• Where in doubt contact the responsible authority.
• Recycle wherever possible.
• Consult manufacturer for recycling options or consult local or regional waste management authority for disposal if no suitable treatment or disposal facility can be identified.
• Dispose of by: burial in a land-fill specifically licensed to accept chemical and / or pharmaceutical wastes or Incineration
• in a licensed apparatus (after admixture with suitable combustible material)
• Decontaminate empty containers. Observe all label safeguards until containers are cleaned and destroyed.

Hazard statements, flashpoints, combustion points, interactions, etc.

• Causes eye irritation.
• Non combustible.
• Not considered a significant fire risk, however containers may burn.
• May emit corrosive fumes.

Safety precautions

• Wash all exposed external body areas thoroughly after handling.
• IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
• If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.

Waste management

• DO NOT allow wash water from cleaning or process equipment to enter drains.
• It may be necessary to collect all wash water for treatment before disposal.
• In all cases disposal to sewer may be subject to local laws and regulations and these should be considered first.
• Where in doubt contact the responsible authority.
• Recycle wherever possible or consult manufacturer for recycling options.
• Consult State Land Waste Management Authority for disposal.
• Bury residue in an authorised landfill.
• Recycle containers if possible, or dispose of in an authorised landfill.

Hazard statements, flashpoints, combustion points, interactions, etc.

• Harmful to aquatic life.
• Causes eye irritation.
• Reacts with acids producing flammable / explosive hydrogen (H2) gas None known.

Safety precautions

• Avoid release to the environment.
• Wash all exposed external body areas thoroughly after handling.
• IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do.
• Continue rinsing.
• If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.

Waste management

• DO NOT allow wash water from cleaning or process equipment to enter drains.
• It may be necessary to collect all wash water for treatment before disposal.
• In all cases disposal to sewer may be subject to local laws and regulations and these should be considered first.
• Where in doubt contact the responsible authority.

Hazard statements, flashpoints, combustion points, interactions, etc.

• Harmful if swallowed.
• Harmful if inhaled.
• May damage fertility or the unborn child.
• May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
• Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

Safety precautions

• Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
• Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• Use personal protective equipment as required.
• Wash all exposed external body areas thoroughly after handling.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
• Avoid release to the environment.
• IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention.
• Collect spillage.
• IF SWALLOWED: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
• IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
• Rinse mouth.

Waste management

• DO NOT allow wash water from cleaning or process equipment to enter drains.
• It may be necessary to collect all wash water for treatment before disposal.
• In all cases disposal to sewer may be subject to local laws and regulations and these should be considered first.
• Where in doubt contact the responsible authority.
• Recycle wherever possible or consult manufacturer for recycling options.
• Consult State Land Waste Management Authority for disposal.
• Bury residue in an authorised landfill.
• Recycle containers if possible, or dispose of in an authorised landfill.