Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T22:55:41.976Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Micro-Analytical Study of a Rare Papier-Mâché Sculpture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2014

Marta Manso*
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal Faculdade de Belas-Artes da Universidade de Lisboa, Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes, 1249-058 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Bidarra
Affiliation:
Geobiotec/Departamento de Geociências, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Cinábrio, Conservação e Restauro, R. Almirante Cândido dos Reis, 3800-096 Aveiro, Portugal
Stéphane Longelin
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Sofia Pessanha
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Adriana Ferreira
Affiliation:
Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa, Rua B Bairro da Liberdade, Lote 3-6, Piso 0, 1070-050 Lisboa, Portugal
Mauro Guerra
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal Departamento de Física, Faculdade de ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
João Coroado
Affiliation:
Geobiotec/Departamento de Geociências, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Departamento de Conservação e Restauro, Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Quinta do Contador, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal
Luísa Carvalho
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal Departamento de Física, Faculdade de ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author. [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The analysis of a Portuguese “papier-mâché” sculpture depicting Saint Anthony is presented in this case study. Several questions were addressed such as the characteristics of the support, pigments used, and artistic technique in order to establish a possible timeline for its production. Qualitative analyses of the cross-sections and of the paper support were performed by optical microscopy using reflected light. Two polychrome layers from different periods and a rag pulped support were identified on the sculpture. The use of micro X-ray fluorescence and Raman microscopy techniques enabled the differentiation of coloring materials used in both polychromies. Semi-quantitative analyses of the gilded samples were also performed by scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy-dispersive spectroscopy allowing the determination of a common Au–Ag–Cu alloy with differences in the purity of the gold. The identified coloring materials lead us to believe that the sculpture was produced in the 19th century, being overpainted in the first half of the 20th century.

Type
SPMicros Special Section
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aitken, Y., Cadel, F. & Voillot, C. (1988). Constituants fibreux des pâtes papiers et cartons: Pratique de l’analyse, 1st ed. Grenoble, France: Centre Technique du Papier et Ecole Française de Papeterie et des Industries Graphiques.Google Scholar
Barrett, T.D. (1989). Early European papers/contemporary conservation papers—a report on research undertaken from fall 1984 through fall 1987. Paper Conservator 13, 1189.Google Scholar
Bell, I.M., Clark, R.J.H. & Gibbs, P.J. (1997). Raman spectroscopic library of natural and synthetic pigments (Pre-1850 AD). Spectroc Acta Part A 53, 21592179.Google Scholar
Bidarra, A., Antunes, P., Desterro, T., Coroado, J. & Rocha, F. (2013). Technical analysis of a renaissance limestone altarpiece. In The Renaissance Workshop: The Materials and Techniques of Renaissance Art, Saunders, D., Spring, M. & Meek, A. (Eds.), pp. 162164. London: Archetype Publications.Google Scholar
Bidarra, A., Coroado, J. & Rocha, F. (2009). Gold leaf analysis of three Porto Baroque altarpieces. Archeo Science, Revue d’Archéométrie 33, 417422.Google Scholar
Bidarra, A., Coroado, J. & Rocha, F. (2011). Retábulos Barrocos: definição de uma metodologia para o estudo da folha de ouro. In AuCORREConservação e técnicas de análise para o estudo e salvaguarda do património metálico. Available at http://aucorre.org/project/pdf/301530.pdf (accessed 15 December 2013).Google Scholar
Burgio, L. & Clark, R.J.H. (2001). Library of FT-Raman spectra of pigments, minerals, pigment media and varnishes, and supplement to existing library of Raman spectra of pigments with visible excitation. Spectrochim Acta Part A 57, 14911521.Google Scholar
Calvo, A. (2003). Conservación y Restauración. Materiales técnicas y procedimientos. De la A a la Z, 3rd ed. Barcelona, Spain: Ediciones del Serbal.Google Scholar
Carvalho, M.L., Manso, M., Pessanha, S. & Guilherme, A. (2009). Quantification of mercury in XVIIITH century books. J Cult Herit 10, 435438.Google Scholar
Castro, K., Pessanha, S., Proietti, N., Princi, E., Capitani, D., Carvalho, M.L. & Madariaga, J.M. (2008a). Non-invasive and non-destructive NMR, RAMAN and XRF analysis of a blaeu’s coloured map from the XVII century. Anal Bioanal Chem 391, 433441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castro, K., Proietti, N., Princi, E., Pessanha, S., Carvalho, M.L., Vicini, S., Capitani, D. & Madariaga, J.M. (2008b). Multianalytical spectroscopic analysis of a coloured dutch map from the XVIII century. Analytica Chimica Acta 623, 187194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castro, K., Perez-Alonso, M., Rodriguez-Laso, M.D., Fernandez, L.A. & Madariaga, J.M. (2005). On-line FT-Raman and dispersive Raman spectra database of artists’ materials (e-VISART database). Anal Bioanal Chem 382, 248258.Google Scholar
Collings, T. & Milner, D. (1978). The identification of oriental paper-making fibres. Paper Conservator 3, 5179.Google Scholar
Coté, W.A. (1980). Papermaking Fibers, A Photomicrographic Atlas. New York: Syracuse University Press.Google Scholar
Dumont, B., Dupont, A.L., Papillon, M.C. & Jeannel, G.F. (2011). Technical study and conservation treatment of a horse model by Dr Auzoux. Stud Conserv 56, 5874.Google Scholar
Eastaugh, N., Walsh, V., Chaplin, T. & Siddall, R. (2008). Pigment CompendiumA Dictionary and Optical Microscopy of Historic Pigments . Oxford, UK: Elsevier Science & Technology.Google Scholar
Franco, A. & Henriques, A. (Eds.) 2012). Do Mar e da Terra. Presépios naturalistas. Estudo e Reabilitação. Catálogo de exposição. Lisboa: DGPC/MNAA. (Col. «Sala do Tecto Pintado»).Google Scholar
Freitas, M. (1965). Primeira contribuição para a análise micrográfica de pastas e papéis. Revista da Junta das Investigações do Ultramar 13, 545570.Google Scholar
Guerra, M.F. & Calligaro, T. (2004). Gold traces to trace gold. J Archaeol Sci 31, 11991208.Google Scholar
Hein, A. & Degrigny, C. (2008). The application of non-destructive technologies for the damage assessment of metal objects. In Metals and Museums in the Mediterranean, Protecting, Preserving and Interpreting, Argyropoulos V. (Ed.), pp. 125140. Greece: The PROMET Consortium.Google Scholar
Khandekar, N. (2003). Preparation of cross sections from easel paintings. Rev Conserv 4, 5264.Google Scholar
Krogerus, B. (1999). Fillers and pigments. In Papermaking Chemistry, Neimo, L. (Ed.) 117149. Helsinki, Finland: TAPPI press.Google Scholar
Manso, M. & Carvalho, M.L. (2007). Elemental identification of document paper by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 22, 164170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manso, M., Carvalho, M.L., Queralt, I., Vicini, S. & Princi, E. (2011). Investigation on the composition of historical and modern italian papers by EDXRF, XRD and SEM-EDS. App Spectrosc 65, 5259.Google Scholar
Manso, M., Costa, M. & Carvalho, M.L. (2008 a). X-ray fluorescence spectrometry on paper characterization: Case study on XVIII and XIX century documents. Spectroch Acta B 63, 13201323.Google Scholar
Manso, M., Costa, M. & Carvalho, M.L. (2008 b). Comparison of elemental content on modern and ancient papers by EDXRF. Appl Phys A 90, 4348.Google Scholar
Pessanha, S., GAC, A., Madeira, T.I., Bruneel, J.L. & Carvalho, M.L. (2012). Evaluation of the intervention of a folding screen belonging to the momoyama period by Raman spectroscopy using different wavelengths. J Raman Spectrosc 43, 16991706.Google Scholar
Pessanha, S., Carvalho, M.L., Cabaço, M.I., Valadas, S., Bruneel, J.L., Besnard, M. & Ribeiro, M.I. (2010). Characterization of two pairs of 16th century nambam folding screens by Raman, EDXRF and FTIR spectroscopies. J Raman Spectrosc 41, 12201226.Google Scholar
Pessanha, S., Guilherme, A., Bittencourt, K., Cabaço, M.I., Bruneel, J.L., Besnard, M. & Carvalho, M.L. (2009). Study of a XVIII century hand-painted Chinese wallpaper by multianalytical non-destructive techniques. Spectrochimica Acta Part B 61, 922928.Google Scholar
Sisko, M. & Pfäffli, I. (1995). Fiber Atlas, Identification of Papermaking Fibers. Germany: Springer Publisher.Google Scholar
TAPPI T401 (1992–1993). Fiber Analysis of Paper and Paper Board. TAPPI Standards, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, Atlanta.Google Scholar
Thornton, J. (1993). The history, technology, and conservation of architectural papier-mâché. J Am Inst Conserv 32, 165176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van der Reyden, D. & Williams, D.C. (1986). The Technology and Conservation Treatment of a 19th Century “Papier-Mâché” Chair. In Preprints of the American Institute for Conservation, 14th Annual Meeting, Chicago, pp. 125–142.Google Scholar