Project: Technical Study on Three Books from the Last Generation of Traditional Korean Bindings
Course: ARTC 672-673 Instrumental Techniques for the Study of Cultural Heritage
Objects’ Titles: Tong-gam (通鑒), Non-eo (論語), and Non-hae (論解)
Date: [approximately from late 19th to early 20th century]
Owner: Privately owned by Yungjin Shin and her family
Dr. Jocelyn Alcantara-Garcia, Winterthur Conservation Scientist, Assistant Professor
Dr. Melissa Tedone, Winterthur Associate Book and Library Conservator, Affiliated Assistant Professor
Joan Irving, Winterthur Senior Paper Conservator, Affiliated Assistant Professor
Laura Mina, Winterthur Associate Textile Conservator, Affiliated Assistant Professor
Debora Mayer, Weissman Preservation Center Senior Paper Conservator
Minah Song, Independent Paper Conservator
Despite their presence in libraries across the United States, traditional Korean bindings remain largely unaddressed in analytical literature. There is a need to analyze the attributes of Korean bindings to ensure their preservation and conservation in ways that respect their cultural significance.
This project closely examined three Korean books, dating approximately from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries, using a series of analytical instruments to characterize the materials used in their bindings. Major findings included details on the construction of the cover and text papers, as well as their physical and chemical properties, identified through stereomicroscopy, polarized light microscopy (PLM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Although the scope of the project was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three books were conclusively identified as examples of traditional Korean binding, with evidence revealing their construction methods and material processing techniques.