Bowled Over
Late 14th century stave bowl
Work has begun on the second batch of objects, which includes hundreds of wooden and leather artefacts from the medieval period. Wood and leather are rarely found in archaeological contexts, usually only surviving in very wet conditions. Many of the items within this batch were discovered during excavations on Perth High Street and elsewhere in the city centre, where traces of the medieval burgh were preserved thanks to waterlogging.
Our conservators have started with this fabulous stave bowl dating to the 14th century. It was discovered during excavations on Kirk Close in Perth in 1979.
It is made from Scots pine, alder and hazel, each species having special qualities that made it suitable for the task at hand. The bindings, or hoops, are made from hazel, which is very flexible and easily bent into shape. The staves are made from Scots pine, which is soft and easy to cut. The base is made from Scots pine and alder, both of which are fairly watertight; their use here might suggest that the bowl was intended for holding liquids or foodstuffs.
Stave bowls are depicted in medieval illuminations performing a range of functions: being used as bowls for feeding dogs, by doctors while letting blood, or as drinking vessels.
The bowl had previously been conserved, with the binding being readhered in its original position, and gaps filled. However, over time, the adhesive had failed and a large proportion of the binding had become detached from the staves and broken into small pieces.
Conservation involved reconstruction of a complicated 3-dimensional puzzle. A supportive cradle was made for the bowl to allow for experimentation with various positions, to determine where the fragments joined. Fragments were bonded using an acrylic polymer and, where necessary, backing supports of glass microballoons were made to strengthen the joins.
The broken binding presented a puzzle
A supportive cradle helped keep the bowl steady
Following treatment, the bowl is stable once again