TAA i.3.9.21

                                   –           17            –    
 

resinous condition, so that it breaks into small fragments when

touched. Usually it will be better, where possible<,> to replace

the leather instead of attempting to restore it. For example<,>

in the case of <the> chariots found in the anti/<e>-chamber, the leather

trappings have all deteriorated to glue and dripped off on to

the objects beneath; but in spite of this the complete restoration

of the chariots will be possible. They are entirely covered

in gold, even including the leather harness work<,> and it will be

possible from the gold plating that was on the old leather, to 

make new leather parts, fit the gold plating on in its original

position and hence reconstruct the chariots in their entirety.

In the treatment of some objects, the worker is in difficulty

because the composition of many of the materials used by the

ancients is unknown to us – particularly is this so in the case

of the various cements ther/<y>e used, – for example, for fixing gesso

to wood<,> and for inlay on gesso, <and> for fixing gold to gesso.

          There are many chemical problems appart from the pres-

ervation of objects. For example<,> many jars <found in the tomb> still contain their

original liquids/<substances> and <these> must be analysed. Again, you will see among

the specimens I have brought with me some coloured braid. But

we don’t know what the colo<u>ring matter is, but it must </> be good

to have suffered little by prolonged exposure. Again we know

little of the deterioration of leather<,> which I mentioned just now.

          With regard to textiles. The condition in which fabrics

are found varies very greatly, not only from place to place, but

actually in the same place piece of material. Sometimes it is

still quite strong – as strong as when newly made; elsewhere

it is reduced to a sooty powder. In the case of cloth covered

with beadwork and sequins and so on, the difficulty of handling