Estudo e conservação preventiva de encadernações de veludo com aplicações de prata

: os missaes da Irmandade dos Clérigos (séculos XVII e XIX), Porto

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on five crimson velvet bookbindings with silver mounts from the 18th and 19th centuries, belonging to the Irmandade dos Clérigos (Porto) and currently held at the Historical Archive of Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto. Although this type of liturgical bookbinding has been briefly addressed within the fields of art history and decorative arts, this study sought to deepen the historical, material, technical and conservation-related understanding of these objects, framing them within a broader cultural and artistic context. The research aimed to provide a historical overview of liturgical bookbinding in Portugal, explore the relationship between bookbinders and silversmiths, contextualize the volumes within the institutional history of the Irmandade, conduct a comparative formal and material analysis, and assess the current conservation condition of the bindings with proposed preventive measures. Methodologically, the study combined bibliographic and archival research with direct observation, comparative analysis, and instrumental techniques such as FT-IR spectroscopy, XRF, optical microscopy and radiography. This work brings new insights into a relatively understudied typology that combines textile and metalwork, with particular attention to the silversmith João Coelho de S. Paio, whose involvement was supported by both stylistic analysis and archival documentation. The study identified characteristic degradation patterns and environmental vulnerabilities, enabling the proposal of custom-made conservation housing adapted to current storage conditions. Despite some limitations, such as restricted access to similar examples and analytical equipment, the dissertation opens pathways for future research and reinforces the importance of integrated approaches combining historical, technical and conservation perspectives. Ultimately, it highlights the significance of these bindings not only as liturgical artifacts but also as valuable testimonies of Portuguese religious and material culture.

Date of Award	7 Oct 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Gonçalo Vasconcelos e Sousa (Supervisor)