• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2010

This study examined each handiwork method of 4 filigree artifacts from Neungsan-ri temple site in Buyeo, Korea through material characteristic and microstructure analysis. As a result, it was indicated that all of the artifacts have comparatively higher purity than 22.7K and some of filigree artifacts showed that gold is alloyed with silver at a certain ratio. Gold thread that decorates surface showed thickness of 0.2~0.8mm and displayed various forms of section. Gold granule indicated that 2 or 3 granules are adhered together and they are 0.3~0.8mm in diameter. Trace of soldering was observed from gold thread and gold granule joints on surface and it confirmed a possibility of being soldering using gold solder through componential analysis. Also, it reveals a surface decorated with pigments such as cinnabar(HgS) and black.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.22
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• pp.81-92
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• 2001

The replica experiment of golden bell excavated from the East Three-Story Pagoda at the Gamunsa temple was carried out in order to know the handiwork technique of ancient granule. The size of 0.3mm granule was attached to the golden bell which was 3.4mm bell body by soldering. When we tried to attach the granule by a modern metalwork, we could know that this technique was hard to make the replica bell. We could prove how to adhere strongly to the golden granule by tension testing. First of all, we made the soldering of the same composition as the golden bell excavated from the Gamunsa temple and then prepared specimens for testing to measure the tension strength. It showed that the broken position was not a soldering part. This result showed how the ancient granule could maintain without a break for a long time.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.17
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• pp.1-16
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• 2016

The gold buckle excavated from Seogam-ri Tomb No. 9(National Treasure No. 189), one of the oldest gold artifacts discovered within the Korean Peninsula, was created using granulation techniques. The buckle is made with 22.8K gold sheets and features a decorative design with seven dragons in repousse metalwork. The outlines of the dragons and the edge of the buckle are finished with 23.8K gold wires and granules. Some curved sections of the buckle are also covered with an extra sheet of 23.8K gold, possibly added to repair defects discovered during production or thereafter. Gold wire used to render the dragon's nostrils is slightly lower in purity(23.3K) and was probably preferred in this case due to its increased hardness. As a result, the metal is better able to retain the complex shape of the dragons' nostrils, created by rolling gold wire into spirals. The buckle's gold granules are found in small, medium and large sizes and are presumed to have been bonded using copper. The foreheads and the bodies of the seven dragons are inset with turquoise and the eyes are decorated with red cinnabar/vermillion(HgS).

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.16
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• pp.4-13
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• 2015

In most gold objects crafted using the granulation technique that have been thus far discovered in the Korean Peninsula, granules were joined using a soldering alloy of gold and silver. However, it was recently revealed through SEM-EDS analysis performed on the ornamented dagger sheath from Gyerim-ro Tomb No.14 in Gyeongju that the gold granules were joined to the surface of this sheath using an entirely different technique. The gold granules on the Gyerim-ro dagger sheath are evenly sized and shaped, the surface has a dendritic texture. Dendritic textures are a characteristic feature of metal alloys, not observed in pure metals. As a matter of fact, the gold granules were made of a ternary alloy of 77wt% Au, 18wt% Ag and 4wt% Cu. Due to this component, the alloy has a melting point below 1000℃ (approximately 980℃), which is significantly lower than 1064℃, the melting temperature of pure gold. This makes it possible to join the gold granules directly to the surface of the sheath by briefly heating them to high temperature, without the use of soldering or any other media. When examined through SEM image, the surface of the sheath showed no traces of soldering, it suggests that the granules were joined through unaided fusion.