ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of a series of tests – using a recently-published set of methodological guidelines referred to here as the Protocol – on varnishes traditionally used in the protection and enhancement of graphic artworks. The aim of the research was to study the characteristics of different varnishes when they are applied to a graphic artwork and to analyze their behavior when

ABSTRACT Contemporary art conservation is constantly facing challenges relating to materials of poor stability that artists incorporate in their practice, the obsolescence of technological elements within artworks, as well as the multitude of ethical issues that these artworks raise. With the conceptual aspect of artworks often being given emphasis, questions about what values exist within the context

ABSTRACT Today, standing in situ or displayed in museums, are several classical and post-classical copies of works of art. In contrast, fakes are usually locked away in museum stores. This dichotomy sparks a reflection on the authenticity attached to fakes and to copies of classical artworks. Building upon Denis Dutton’s work and drawing on a series of examples, this article contends that, although

ABSTRACT In-depth studies of the manufacture and composition of late nineteenth century Korean lacquerware from the Joseon dynasty are underrepresented in the English-language literature. This article, the first to offer a comprehensive layer-by-layer analysis of late Joseon dynasty lacquerware, shows that these objects are made using a mixture of traditional lacquerware techniques and materials together

ABSTRACT The identification of organic colorants in traditional oil paintings is an important and challenging area of conservation research. Since many organic dyes and pigments are fugitive, the detection of these materials is crucial for the proper assessment of fading, conservation treatment, and the prevention of further photodamage. While numerous methods exist to characterize colorants, recent

ABSTRACT To understand the degradation behaviour of rolled hanging scrolls for future conservation treatments, we evaluated the degradation–position profiles of naturally aged hanging scrolls and their model samples, which were subjected to different storage conditions. For the sample immersed in a CuSO4・5H2O solution and rolled around a glass rod, accelerated ageing using the open method (80°C, 65%

ABSTRACT A selectively cleaned oil painting, Cupid asleep in a garland of flowers, circle of Mario di Fiori (1603–73, GV43) was installed alongside a series of photographic works by artist Sophy Rickett. Cupid and the Curious Moaning of Kenfig Burrows was an exhibition at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, UK, that featured this partial restoration undertaken as a conservation-intervention following

ABSTRACT This study focuses on copper green glazes on the front and reverse schemes of a seventeenth-century harpsichord lid painting. The aim was to investigate the materials and techniques of the copper-based green paints and their brown discolouration, a phenomenon commonly encountered in glazes made with the pigment verdigris (basic and neutral copper acetate). The study summarises the historical

ABSTRACT Though often not considered as a concept in its own right, time can be regarded as a key factor for the preservation of the built heritage. Time can be taken into account as an implicit and discriminating factor, projecting itself onto the building and imbuing three aspects of its conservation: there is a relationship between the historical evolution of the concept of restoration and a change

ABSTRACT Triphenylmethane based dyes became popular after their invention in 1858 due to their brilliant shades and high tinting strengths and were used not only as colourants for textile and paper dyeing, but also as pigments in artists' materials under the commercial name ‘Fanal®’. However, the extent of their use as pigments in artists’ paints has thus far remained unknown. Despite their bright

ABSTRACT Notions of authenticity underpinning conservation practice have been challenged by artistic and museum practices that contest the mere possibility of singular material existence of objects. These practices work within the liminal, in-between, space some objects currently occupy. But how can conservation conciliate the preservation of an object’s material manifestation, with the ethical need

ABSTRACT This paper takes the position that our current treatments that involve infilling with a neutral rather than matched colour are deceptive to the viewer and that such deliberate mediation through the act of conservation can deny the viewer an authentic understanding of the heritage object. Governing guidelines and documents describe authenticity as the alignment of the object and its story but

ABSTRACT The task of archaeologists is to study the material culture of the past to pass it on to current and future generations. Each object preserves a memory, deriving from its production, its use, its breaking and deposition. This memory can also be reactivated in the modern and contemporary world through trade, collecting and exhibition of various artefacts. In order to preserve and safeguard

ABSTRACT This paper introduces the distinction between conservation outputs and outcomes to frame thinking about conservation ethics, decision-making and practice. It proposes that prescriptive ethical principles or their narrow interpretation do not necessarily deliver outputs that meet desired conservation outcomes such as ‘authenticity’. It draws analogies between philosophical definitions of art

ABSTRACT In this work, the results of a detailed art technological investigation of the icon Last Supper from the Russian Memorial Church in Leipzig (Germany) are presented. The icons of the iconostasis of the church were made in the workshop of N.S. Emelyanov in Moscow in 1912. The investigation showed that the painter in principle technologically adhered to the traditional way of making icons. The

ABSTRACT Lacquerware is a type of ancient and unique Chinese artwork that was also popular throughout Asia and Europe. The process of mixing tung oil in lacquer sap was a milestone in lacquerware history. However, the proportions of tung oil in different types of art forms are still not clear and are disputed, due to the lack of noninvasive quantitative technology. To solve this problem, tung oil and

ABSTRACT Smalt is a blue cobalt-coloured glass pigment used in European wall paintings from the early Renaissance period that became a popular choice for artists due to its unique tone, availability, and versatility. The pigment has long been considered as stable in an alkaline environment since it was applied with lime-based techniques and generally retained its colour over time. This perceived stability

ABSTRACT International conservation codes ask practitioners to treat historical objects and buildings with ‘respect’. What does this mean? The question has received comparatively little theoretical treatment in conservation literature. Taking a philosophical stance on the issue, this paper suggests that we cannot grasp how respect delineates ethical obligations for professionals in the field if we

ABSTRACT In an era of modern science-based conservation, heritage professionals pride themselves on their objective and interdisciplinary approach in conservation decision-making. However, supposedly well-supported conservation treatment decisions continue be the topic of heated discussions in the cultural heritage field. The question is why this is still the case. It is argued that many conservation

ABSTRACT This paper draws inspiration from the observation that Byzantine icons in Greek museums are exhibited in an unrestored state, with traces of damage and loss kept visible, in contrast with the majority of painted artworks. To identify the reasoning behind this approach to public presentation, research based on interviews with scholars in the field was conducted. The main issues they raised

ABSTRACT With the arrival of the digital age and technology, creation of art and its replication reached a whole new pinnacle. Increasingly, conservators find themselves dealing with editions, copies, and replicas as part of their job. Indeed, the replication of a work of art, be it paper or a 3D printed sculpture, is becoming one of many conservation measures that may serve as a preventive conservation

ABSTRACT The visual comparison of 2D images, or ‘photographic monitoring’, is commonly used in cultural heritage conservation to assess rates of deterioration and the impact of interventions. While it is an accessible technique, three-dimensional changes can be difficult to discern and identifying change can be subjective. Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, which generates 3D point clouds

ABSTRACT When stone objects are excavated at archeological sites, they are often covered with crusts of mineral deposits on the surface, which seriously obscure their aesthetic value, especially in the case of polychrome stone statues. To remove these carbonate crusts without damaging the underlying painting and stone matrix, a gel-based cleaning system combining polyvinylamine (PVAm) and acetic acid

ABSTRACT This paper concerns a large Indonesian manuscript collection written on dluwang, a mulberry paper traditionally produced in Indonesia. This study documents the current condition and deterioration of these precious manuscripts at Rekso Pustoko, a royal library at the Mangkunegaran Palace, Surakarta, in the province of Central Java. Rekso Pustoko is one of the oldest libraries in Indonesia.

ABSTRACT Mosses are a common type of organism found colonising stone in both the natural and built environment. People responsible for managing and conserving historic buildings often worry that mosses can cause biodeterioration, but there is very little research to date on what controls moss growth and the nature and magnitude of their impact. To help fill this knowledge gap, research has been carried

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the use of micro-sensitive methods – nanoindentation, dynamic water vapour sorption, and X-ray microtomography – to examine the physical properties of small volumes of artists’ materials. The novel methodology proposed in this paper was tested on laboratory-prepared chalk-based ground samples and subsequently applied to distemper paint samples taken from the polychrome

ABSTRACT A technical study of the three exceptional figures adorning the Monument of the Heart of Duke Anne de Montmorency commissioned in 1571 and attributed to the sculptors Barthélémy Prieur and Martin Lefort was carried out. This study includes X-radiography, alloy analysis, characterisation of the refractory core, visual observation of the interior and the exterior of the sculptures, as well as

ABSTRACT The famous Maya blue, a nanostructured hybrid organic–inorganic material, has been the subject of numerous studies since its discovery in 1931. These mainly focused on mural paintings, manuscripts, cultural artifacts from ancient Mesoamerica, and notable examples of syncretic art produced in early colonial times in New Spain as a result of the convergence of Mesoamerican and European traditions

ABSTRACT Ivory handicraft developed in China 7000 years ago and reached its peak during the Qing dynasty. Among the numerous court collections of ivory handicrafts, a hanging polychrome panel describing a scene of prosperous business at the harbor near Guangzhou with an exquisite embedded ivory carving was analyzed comprehensively for pigments and dyes. A process for painting on ivory was revealed

ABSTRACT The materials and techniques used to make Ethiopian copper and copper alloy processional crosses from the twelfth to twentieth centuries were investigated through technical study including X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). All 20 crosses in this multi-collection study underwent XRF analysis while the eight crosses from the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts additionally underwent

ABSTRACT Stained glass restoration generally involves filling glass losses to maintain the coherence of the window and the new glasses used to fill the losses can be painted to chromatically reintegrate the stained glass panel. One of the most common painting materials on stained glass is grisaille, a paint made by mixing metal oxides with a ground lead glass. Grisailles usually have black and brown

ABSTRACT A significant coffer in the Royal Swedish collection, inventory number HGK 406, is examined. The aim is to confirm or add new data concerning its age, provenance, and components of manufacture. The scientific analyses include microscopy of cross and thin sections, wood species identification, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X−ray fluorescence microscopy

ABSTRACT This article presents the results of a study conducted on The Feast of Dionysius I, a previously unknown painting attributed to Henryk Siemiradzki (1843–1902), one of the most prominent Polish painters of the nineteenth century. Analyses were performed to verify the proposed artist. The results were surprising. Not only did they confirm the authenticity of the work, but they also revealed

ABSTRACT This work studies the different materials used in the production of Argentine postage stamps from 1888 to 2016 and explains how the use of these materials has changed over time, thus contributing to knowledge of the national philatelic heritage. Analyses of more than 40 Argentine postage stamps were carried out non-invasively in situ without the need for prior preparation, using portable X-ray

ABSTRACT Recent restoration work on Pisa Cathedral provided the opportunity for a multidisciplinary analysis of the monument that identified interesting aspects of its history, preservation, and structural safety. In particular, the study of the matroneum provided clues about the role of the structures in the well-known fire that occurred in 1595. Alteration patterns and damage forms on the stone masonry

ABSTRACT This paper describes an investigation into 1:1 Paraloid® B-72/B-48N as a conservation adhesive for use in hot climates. The study was driven by archaeological conservation work at El-Kurru, Sudan, a Saharan Desert site where daytime high temperatures can reach 45°C. Paraloid® B-72 is a favorite adhesive for use with archaeological materials for many reasons – notably its stability and long-term

ABSTRACT Whilst research has been published on the impact of pollution on glass, there is no consensus on the risk from formaldehyde. A controlled relative humidity (RH) showcase used with visually weeping glass was studied. At under 42% RH, the presence of formaldehyde and formic acid continue to produce sodium formate salts on the glass surface. Estimates of the glass deterioration rate have been

ABSTRACT In accordance with the 1964 Venice Charter, the preservation of wall paintings by detaching and mounting techniques is the last resort when all other means of protection prove to be ineffective. This method is a highly sophisticated method that is now rarely practiced. The technique has been used in India successfully to salvage many decorative schemes such as Rang Mahal at Chamba, Rupi Palace

ABSTRACT Egyptian faience is a non-clay ceramic semi-transparent material formed of a quartz core and alkali-lime glaze. Previous investigations have identified production techniques by using microstructure images obtained from invasive methods. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive 3D imaging technique that produces virtual cross-sections of transparent and semi-transparent materials

ABSTRACT An eighteenth-century transcription of the Qur’anic text, originating from Istanbul but now housed at the Mesudija Library in Bosnia and Herzegovina, underwent a series of analyses prior to conservation. The artefact characterization included preliminary analyses accompanied by microscopy such as determination of the fiber composition, paper typology, and microchemical tests. The acidity status

ABSTRACT Heritage science is an interdisciplinary field and successful heritage science research by necessity involves interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds and professional experience. Successful interdisciplinary research is challenging, and many issues have been identified both within and outside heritage science. However, within heritage science

ABSTRACT One of the factors affecting the life expectancy of hanging scrolls is the storage environment. Our study focused on clarifying the degradation behaviour of painting paper, concentrating on the specific storage conditions that provide an airtight environment in a storage box and the stacked structure of the rolled paper rather than considering the materials of the wooden storage box or the

ABSTRACT This work presents the results of the study of a fragment of architectural terracruda sculpture from the Buddhist archaeological site of Tepe Narenj (Kabul, Afghanistan, fifth-ninth centuries CE) through X-ray micro-computed tomographic analysis. This technique offers great potential for the study of artworks that, due to their nature, condition, or relevance, are not suitable for sampling

ABSTRACT This review paper offers a summary of historical techniques and materials used to produce plaster casts and to treat their surfaces, as found in the historical literature. It reviews a selection of manuals, treatises, and recipe books on the art of the cast makers as well as a selection of patents related to the manufacturing of casts and the coating of their surfaces. The introduction to

ABSTRACT This article reports testing of the efficacy of five consolidants (sodium alginate, zinc alginate, Paraloid® B-72, TRI-Funori™, Methocel® A4C) used by conservators for consolidation. The consolidants were tested for potential use on deteriorated black-dyed plant fibres, specifically paru-dyed muka (iron-tannate dyed fibre from harakeke; New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax), building on previous

ABSTRACT A Japanese painting paper is sized with an aqueous solution of alum and animal glue followed by brushing with a mixture of pigments of various colours and aqueous animal glue solution. Subsequently, to mount the Japanese painting to a hanging scroll, the backside of the painting is lined with a first lining paper using wheat starch paste for mechanical support. To evaluate the permanence of

ABSTRACT As the redox catalytic activity of iron may be detrimental for waterlogged archaeological wood, it is of importance to know what ligands bind the iron, their distribution in the wood, and what the reactivity of these compounds are. We have identified iron-tannin precipitates in archaeological oak timber from the shipwreck of the seventeenth-century warship The Sword with confocal Raman spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The use of organic solvents in treatments for the removal of varnishes on easel paintings is still a common practice among conservators worldwide. The more polar solvents required for aged, oxidized varnishes may promote leaching of fatty acid components of oil-based paints. The strategy tested in this study to reduce the diffusion of the solvents, in an attempt to minimize interactions, relied

ABSTRACT The appearance of silver objects deteriorates due to the formation of a brown-to-black tarnish layer. Several methods are available for removing these tarnished layers, ranging from polishing through chemical cleaning to electrochemical methods. This study presents a low-cost and low-toxicity method that uses sodium glycinate to clean silver. Cleaning tests were performed on both artificially

ABSTRACT Since ancient times, the use of high-tin bronze alloys (>17 wt.%) has been mainly limited to the production of specific objects such as mirrors and bells. High-tin bronzes can show distinctive colour reflection, as well as mechanical properties and corrosion resistance that clearly distinguish them from the classical bronze composition (with 8–12 wt.% tin). In the present study samples of

ABSTRACT This paper explores concepts of changeability, variability, and malleability in the different heritage genres of time-based artworks and utilitarian machinery. Case studies bring to the surface differences in understandings, norms, and boundaries, but also demonstrate similarities between the two areas of practice, showing that they can be viewed as poles of practice within a shared field

ABSTRACT This paper presents the study of metal threads and other decorative materials on 11 traditional Chinese children's hats dated to the early twentieth century. The lavishly decorated hats were presented to children to protect them from evil and bless them for good health and fortune. Those hats were selected for display in the 2015 exhibition ‘Wearable Blessings: Traditional Chinese Children's

ABSTRACT The ruins of Tongwan City, built by the Steppe peoples of Xiongnu, are the most completely preserved Xiongnu ruins in China. In 2012, the site of Tongwan City was included in the preliminary list of world cultural heritage sites in China, and its special status among Chinese city sites was revealed. In order to understand the construction materials and processes of the Xiongnu city from 1600

ABSTRACT Two artefacts in royal custody, an étagère (inventory number HGK401) and a writing desk (inventory number HGK1249), that display specific aspects of Swedish Rococo furniture in an exciting combination, are re-examined through scientific means. Microscopy of cross sections, wood species identification, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence

ABSTRACT Lipid oxidation, commonly known as fat burn, is a serious problem in taxidermy collections across the world. The zoological collections at the Natural History Museum in London, UK, are no exception. This article outlines the causes and possible solutions for this form of deterioration. Treatments are evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, pH, shrinkage temperature, and their effect

ABSTRACT The study of materials that comprise artworks significantly contributes to understanding of age and provenance. While dendrochronology is a particularly valuable and well-established technique for panel paintings comprising oak timber, conventional practices of resurfacing end-grains to reveal tree rings is becoming less acceptable because it removes material, modifying the painting. Recently

Lipid oxidation, commonly known as fat burn, is a serious problem in taxidermy collections across the world. The zoological collections at the Natural History Museum in London, UK, are no exception...

ABSTRACT The study of materials that comprise artworks significantly contributes to understanding of age and provenance. While dendrochronology is a particularly valuable and well-established technique for panel paintings comprising oak timber, conventional practices of resurfacing end-grains to reveal tree rings is becoming less acceptable because it removes material, modifying the painting. Recently

Two artefacts in royal custody, an etagere (inventory number HGK401) and a writing desk (inventory number HGK1249), that display specific aspects of Swedish Rococo furniture in an exciting combinat...

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to assign the provenance of Roman marble statues and assess their condition in order to use this information as a guideline for their future conservation treatments. Several analytical methods were applied to investigate the provenance of the statues including petrography, X-ray diffraction, and mass spectrometry. The deterioration level of the statues was assessed