Havells-Sylvania and Desco have been tasked with lighting Europe's oldest surviving intact book, the Lindisfarne Gospels, which is currently on display in Durham.
M&E design consultant Desco was responsible for the lighting scheme at Durham University's Palace Green Library, where the 1,300 year-old manuscript, which contains four gospels of the New Testament, is exhibited. Desco selected LED products, specifically Havells-Sylvania's Concord Beacon Muse, to deliver accent lighting in the library.
Havells-Sylvania and Desco illuminate the Lindesfarne gospels. Durham University.
In total, 25 13W Beacon Muse fittings, with Beacon elongated lenses, were used. This lighting includes a recessed track with scene-setting controls.
The main driver in the lighting design process was to protect the gospels from the detrimental effects of light exposure. The manuscript contains exquisite calligraphic script and illustrations of strange beasts and spiral designs.
Described as the oldest known translation of the gospels into the English language, the document was produced and decorated around AD715 by the Bishop of Lindisfarne.
A spokeswoman at Desco said: "The Concord Beacon Muse was selected because of its adjustability. Because of the level and precision of focus it allows, it provided versatility - being able to meet the particular requirements for the visiting Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition, as well as offering flexibility for the future use of the gallery space. The colour temperature used was 3000K."
While only two pages of the gospels are visible at the display, visitors can flick through and zoom into all of the pages using a digital version of the manuscript. The Lindisfarne Gospels is on loan to Durham from the British Library until 30 September.
