‘MAKING AND COLOURING THE MEDIEVAL BOOK’ by DR BRIAN DAVIES

Tuesday, 25th March 2014, 6:30pm (doors open 6:00pm) – The Grand Robing Room at Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ

‘Making and Colouring the Medieval Book’ is an illustrated talk about the materials and methods used in the production of medieval books. Parchment and paper are both considered, as is the development of inks used for writing the text. The talk describes the richly coloured decoration of many of these books; evidence is presented, both from medieval writings and from modern chemical analysis, of the pigments and techniques that were used, and some of the problems facing the conservator are considered.
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Dr Brian H. Davies, BSc PhD CChem FRSC

Brian Davies, a retired senior lecturer in biochemistry from Aberystwyth University, spent 35 years teaching biochemistry and analytical chemistry and researching pigments in plants, animals and microorganisms. After retirement, he established the Science for Archivists component of the postgraduate Archive Administration course at Aberystwyth, and became an assessor for the conservator and conservation instructor accreditations of the Archives and Records Association. He lectures widely, in the UK and abroad, on the
historical and chemical aspects of the uses of dyes and pigments. The medieval
illuminated manuscript is of particular interest.

Lecture will start at 6.30pm (doors open 6pm)
The Grand Robing Room at Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ

There will be a charge to cover the cost of hiring the hall: £10, or £5 for students.

Refreshments will be available after the lecture.  All Icon membership is welcome.

It will be necessary for admission to register in the New Year with Laila Hackforth-Jones in advance. Please contact her at laila.hj@blueyonder.co.uk AFTER 12TH JANUARY 2014.