Study of 59 paper fragments found on a 17th Century base of an ivory altar cross

During a conservation project of a luso-oriental altar ivory cross from the 17th century, 59 paper fragments were found on its four level step base, between some of the low relief ivory plates and its wooden sockets of the four level base, and behind some cabochons of the decoration. Some fragments present a watermark and hand writing. These elements, together with the observation of the stains, dimension of fragments and their perforations, lead us to formulate the hypothesis of their having occurred three mountings, in different time periods. The paper characteristics and the history of other materials used in those mountings permit to pinpoint time periods for their occurrence.