Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting

In the frame of the cooperation project Rescue and Conserve the Endangered Wall Paintings in the Museums of China, systematic investigations concerning the materials and techniques used in the wall paintings detached from a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) temple, Dazhao Temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia of...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shuya Wei, Manfred Schreiner, Hong Guo, Qinglin Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi 2010-06-01
Series:International Journal of Conservation Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijcs.uaic.ro/pub/IJCS-10-11-Wei.pdf
_version_ 1818682640814833664
author Shuya Wei
Manfred Schreiner
Hong Guo
Qinglin Ma
author_facet Shuya Wei
Manfred Schreiner
Hong Guo
Qinglin Ma
author_sort Shuya Wei
collection DOAJ
description In the frame of the cooperation project Rescue and Conserve the Endangered Wall Paintings in the Museums of China, systematic investigations concerning the materials and techniques used in the wall paintings detached from a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) temple, Dazhao Temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia of China, as well as the previous conservation intervention materials have been carried out. X-ray Fluorescence Analysis (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy in combination with Energy Dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM/EDX) were used for the identification of inorganic materials in the wall paintings, while Pyrolysis in combination of Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was applied for the characterization of organic materials. Pigments including cinnabar, lead white, atacamite/para-atacamite, orpiment, ochre, minium, carbon black and smalt were identified. The binding medium in the painting was determined as animal glue. Alkyd is an uncommon consolidant in the conservation of Chinese wall paintings, but it could be determined in this object, where conservation treatments were performed in the 1950s.
first_indexed 2024-12-17T10:22:04Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d231ee944d4d4f6892294a02d48e3a45
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2067-533X
2067-8223
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-17T10:22:04Z
publishDate 2010-06-01
publisher Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi
record_format Article
series International Journal of Conservation Science
spelling doaj.art-d231ee944d4d4f6892294a02d48e3a452022-12-21T21:52:46ZengAlexandru Ioan Cuza University of IasiInternational Journal of Conservation Science2067-533X2067-82232010-06-011299112Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall PaintingShuya WeiManfred SchreinerHong GuoQinglin MaIn the frame of the cooperation project Rescue and Conserve the Endangered Wall Paintings in the Museums of China, systematic investigations concerning the materials and techniques used in the wall paintings detached from a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) temple, Dazhao Temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia of China, as well as the previous conservation intervention materials have been carried out. X-ray Fluorescence Analysis (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy in combination with Energy Dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM/EDX) were used for the identification of inorganic materials in the wall paintings, while Pyrolysis in combination of Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was applied for the characterization of organic materials. Pigments including cinnabar, lead white, atacamite/para-atacamite, orpiment, ochre, minium, carbon black and smalt were identified. The binding medium in the painting was determined as animal glue. Alkyd is an uncommon consolidant in the conservation of Chinese wall paintings, but it could be determined in this object, where conservation treatments were performed in the 1950s.http://www.ijcs.uaic.ro/pub/IJCS-10-11-Wei.pdfXRFXRDSEM/EDXPy-GC-MSChinese wall paintingDazhao Temple
spellingShingle Shuya Wei
Manfred Schreiner
Hong Guo
Qinglin Ma
Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting
International Journal of Conservation Science
XRF
XRD
SEM/EDX
Py-GC-MS
Chinese wall painting
Dazhao Temple
title Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting
title_full Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting
title_fullStr Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting
title_full_unstemmed Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting
title_short Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting
title_sort scientific investigation of the materials in a chinese ming dynasty wall painting
topic XRF
XRD
SEM/EDX
Py-GC-MS
Chinese wall painting
Dazhao Temple
url http://www.ijcs.uaic.ro/pub/IJCS-10-11-Wei.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT shuyawei scientificinvestigationofthematerialsinachinesemingdynastywallpainting
AT manfredschreiner scientificinvestigationofthematerialsinachinesemingdynastywallpainting
AT hongguo scientificinvestigationofthematerialsinachinesemingdynastywallpainting
AT qinglinma scientificinvestigationofthematerialsinachinesemingdynastywallpainting