Search results for "gilding"
showing 7 items of 7 documents
Conservation Work on an Ancient Sicilian Processional Banner: Preliminary Analyses and in Situ Restoration
2013
Abstract Before carrying out the conservation work on the gilded wooden frame of the processional banner coming from Tusa, Sicily, some preliminary diagnostic analyses were conducted in order to identify materials that made up the wooden frame. After a micro-sampling phase, a thin section of the wooden support allowed to identify the timber as linden wood (basswood). The X-Ray Fluorescence analysis confirmed the presence of a thin layer of primer made of plaster and animal glue covered with a red bolus primer, used for the gilding process. The restoration was carried out during the opening hours of the museum, allowing visitors to be informed on the restoration phases.
THE SAN VITO WOODEN PULPIT FROM MUSEO DIOCESANO OF PALERMO, ITALY: MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH AND ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR DATING AND RESTORATION
2017
The aim of the present research is to investigate the constitutive materials and the execution techniques of San Vito wooden pulpit from Museo Diocesano of Palermo (Italy) and to provide helpful information to dating it in addition to technical, historical and artistic evaluations. The pulpit, attributed to unknown artist, belongs to the decorative arts and the most relevant feature is its double dating, in addition to the singular painting technique: it has a linear structure typical of XIXth century and three polychrome and gilded panels probably dated to the end of XVIIth century. This paper describes the application of analytical techniques (imaging diagnostics techniques, Scanning Elec…
Non-destructive Approach to Multilayer Objects: XRF Analysis of Gilt and Enamelled Metals of the Medieval Cross of Rosciolo
2013
Abstract The penetration of X-rays is usually a limitation to the application of XRF analysis to multilayered materials, however it is possible, by software tools based on the fundamental parameters method, to overcome this problem and estimate thickness and composition of each layer. The cross of Rosciolo is a significant example of multilayer object: it is made of a wood core with attached gilt silver sheets and decorated with enamels. Measurements were carried out in situ and the PyMCA software was employed. The values of gilding thickness, Au/Hg ratios and Cu content in the silver sheets, and enamel's composition are discussed.
X-ray fluorescence investigation of gilded and enamelled silver: The case study of four medieval processional crosses from central Italy
2013
Abstract The presence of multilayered structures is common in such cultural artefacts as paintings, corroded metals, objects that underwent a whatever form of surface qualification. One of the most usual and complete ways to investigate such structures is observing a cross section, which requires sampling. There are however situations where at least part of the stratigraphic information can be derived non-destructively: the literature shows that X-ray fluorescence (XRF) has frequently been used, in recent years, for this purpose, with special regard to paintings and gilded metals. Aim of this paper is to further explore the suitability of XRF-based techniques to characterise multilayered st…
Gilding and pigments of Renaissance marble of Abatellis Palace: non-invasive investigation by XRF spectrometry
2012
Most of the artworks constituting the collection of Renaissance statuary of Abatellis Palace in Palermo (Sicily) show evidence of colour layers and fragments of gold foil that probably once covered the whole marble surface. The restoration of some of these statues has allowed to carry out archaeometric studies about the painting technique and to highlight the original materials and inclusion present on the precious marbles by two famous Italian sculptors of the Renaissance, Francesco Laurana and Antonello Gagini. The measurements have been performed in situ through the integrated use of two non-invasive techniques: visible fluorescence stimulated by ultraviolet light and X-ray fluorescence.…
Reconsidering the accuracy of X-ray fluorescence and ion beam based methods when used to measure the thickness of ancient gildings
2017
Since at least 5000 years ago, gilding techniques have been used for decoration purposes or to make artefacts appear as made of solid gold. Investigation of ancient gildings inevitably requires measuring their thickness, which is usually done either through the observation of cross-sections or by methods such as Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, particle-induced X-ray emission and X-ray fluorescence. Whereas the former method requires sampling, the latter ones are non-invasive and therefore preferable. These non-invasive methods, however, measure the number of atoms per unit area, which can be converted into thickness only if the density is known. So far this has not been considered a…
Study of tin and gold halos in the medieval wall painting depicting Saints Luke the Evangelist and Gregory the Great in Palermo’s San Francesco d’Ass…
2022
Lo scopo di questo studio è quello di fornire un supporto al restauratore quando si trova ad affrontare un manufatto con doratura a foglia di stagno. Lo studio dei materiali originali ha fornito un quadro completo dei vari componenti coinvolti, organici e inorganici, e sono stati delineati i degradi più comuni, nonché i metodi di conservazione per questi materiali estremamente fragili e sensibili come le foglie metalliche The purpose of this study is to provide a support for the restorer when facing an artifact with tin leaf gilding. The study of the original materials gave a complete picture of the various components involved, organic and inorganic, and the most common degradations were ou…