Composition of the Adhesive Used for Fixing Glass Eyes of the Stone Standing Maitreya of Daejosa Temple, Buyeo (Treasure No. 217)

In the process of the conservation treatment of the glass eyes of the stone standing Maitreya of Daejosa temple, Buyeo (Treasure No. 217), a blackish material, expected to be the adhesive for fixing the glass eyes, was collected and analyzed. Infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (pyrolysis/GC/MS) were employed to identify the organic material in the sample. The IR analysis revealed the presence of materials such as apatite or bone black. The pyrogram of the sample was similar to that of Asian lacquer, among traditional adhesives. In particular, the pyrolysis/GC/MS analysis with online methylation detected 1,2-dimethoxy-3-pentadecylbenzene, methyl 7-(2,3- dimethoxyphenyl) heptanoate, and methyl 8-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)octanoate. These are known to be the pyrolysis products of catechol and its oxidation product, which indicated the presence of Asian lacquer in the sample. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and thermal gravimetry analysis showed that the sample contained ca. 60% inorganic substances, including apatite. Radiocarbon dating of the sample suggested that the blackish material was applied between the late 13^th and early 15^th century, revealing some discrepancy with the art-historical manufacturing time of the Maitreya. From the above analysis, it was concluded that Asian lacquer and bone ash were used to attach the glass eyes by forming a thick blackish lacquer layer.