• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.6-6
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• 2018

본 연구에서는 고문헌에 기록된 도금 재료와 도금법 등을 확인하고 이를 기초자료로 활용하여 매실산을 사용한 금(Au)-수은(Hg) 아말감기법으로 고대 도금(鍍金)기술을 되살리고, 이를 토대로 경주 월지에서 출토된 금동삼존판불을 복원하였다. 먼저, 전통 도금법을 되살리기 위해서, "오주서종박물고변", "확지신편", 조선시대 각종 의궤 등에 공통적으로 기록되어 있는 매실에 주목하고, 매실을 3~4개월 발효 숙성 후 착즙한 뒤 그것을 농축하여 만든 매실산을 도금 실험에 적용하였다. 금아말감 도금을 위하여 월지 출토 금동삼존판불의 바탕소지금속인 청동삼존판불을 구리와 주석 89:11(Cu:6kg, Su:750g)로 합금하여 주물사 주조법으로 복원하였으며, 동일한 합금비로 제작된 $2.3cm{\times}3.5cm$(가로${\times}$세로)의 시편에 사전 실험을 실시하였다. 현대적 산처리 방식에 사용되는 질산과 전통방식으로 사용되는 매실산으로 시편에 산처리 한 후 각각 비교해 보고, 금분과 금박, 상온과 가온에 따른 아말감상태를 비교하는 실험을 진행하였는데, 실험에 사용된 매실산 70%는 pH가 1.94로, 오늘날 산처리에 사용하고 있는 질산 20%와는 차이가 있지만, 청동 시편 실험을 통해 매실산에 20분 정도 담근 뒤 금아말감을 도포 후 24시간 지나 가열($380{\sim}400^{\circ}C$) 했을 때 금도금이 잘 되어, 현대적 방법인 질산처리로 도금을 한 시편과 큰 차이가 없는 것으로 관찰되었다. 사전 실험을 통한 결과를 적용한 월지 출토 금동삼존판불 복원은 청동삼존판불 표면처리, 금-수은 합금 및 도금하기, 도금 후 표면처리의 순서로 진행되었는데, 금과 소지금속의 밀착력을 높이기 위해 표면을 숯을 이용해 탈지한 후 물로 씻어내고 매실산을 도포하여 20분 동안 두어 부식 및 세척을 시행하였다. 금도금을 위한 금-수은아말감은 가온할 때 수은이 증발하는 양을 고려하여 금1 : 수은10 비율로 합금하여 완성하였으며, 금아말감 도포 후 약 24시간 지난 다음, $380{\sim}400^{\circ}C$에 가열하여 수은을 기화시켜 도금작업을 완성하였다. 금아말감도금은 평균적으로 6~7차례 시행하여야 완벽히 도금되지만, 본 연구에서는 단 4차례의 도금만으로 금아말감도금을 완성시켰는데, 이것은 금아말감을 바탕소지인 청동에 도포한 후 24시간 동안 금아말감과 청동과의 반응 시간을 두게한 것이 큰 역할을 한 것으로 보이며, 이는 청동시편을 이용한 실험과 과학적 분석을 통하여 입증하였다. SEM으로 표면을 관찰한 결과 아말감 도포시간이 즉시인 경우 도금이 거의 되지 않은 것을 확인할 수 있었고 36시간이 넘어갈 경우 금 도금층이 불균일하게 관찰되었으므로 도금시간은 12시간~24시간 이내가 적절함을 확인할 수 있었다. EDS로 성분을 분석한 결과 산처리 시간이 20분인 시료의 경우 5 wt% 내외로 수은의 비율이 다른 시료에 비해 낮은 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 실험 및 분석결과 산처리 시간이 20분이고 아말감 도포시간이 24시간일 때 도금이 잘 이루어지므로 이 결과를 토대로 금동삼존판불을 복원하였다. 이번 연구를 통해 도금법에 표면을 세척하고 부식시키기 위해 사용한 물질이 매실산임을 찾아내어 확인할 수 있었는데, 이러한 점 에서 이 연구의 가장 큰 의미는 전통 소재와 기술을 복원한 것으로, 앞으로 매실산을 이용한 금 도금기술은 관련 학계에도 큰 기여를 할 것으로 기대된다.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.23
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• pp.91-108
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• 2020

This study conducted non-destructive analyses of the material features of seven gilt-bronze crowns of Baekje Kingdom that were excavated in the Cheonan, Gongju, Seosan, Iksan, Naju, and Hapcheon areas. A typical Baekje gilt-bronze crown has a conical inner crown and an outer crown embellished with vertical ornaments on the front and the back, a tube topped with a hemispherical ornament, and other ornamentation. Diverse designs (e.g., dragon, bonghwang, flowers, and plants) were applied using a range of techniques, including repoussé, chasing, openwork, and engraving. Formal features differ among the crowns according to their period of production and site of excavation. The substrate metal of the crowns is either pure copper or mixed copper with a small amount of lead. The crowns were amalgam-plated on the surface with pure gold or gold with a small amount of silver. The crown from Okjeon Tomb No. 23 in Hapcheon in the ancient Gaya region has a high silver content, which appears to be a regional feature. In addition, this crown from Okjeon Tomb No. 23, which can be categorized as Baekje-style gilt-bronze crown, seems to be plated at most three times, while the gilt-bronze crowns found within Baekje Kingdom territory were plated once or twice.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.12
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• pp.42-62
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• 1991

A.D. 5세기 전반기경으로 추정되는 황남대총 고분에서 발굴출토된 유물 중 도금 기법이 적용된 대표적인 형태 및 용도의 유물 시료 13점을 선정 SEM-EDS 및 금속현미경에 의해 분석한 결과,시료의 도금피복 기술은 수은(Hg)에 의한 아말감(amalgam) 도금법에 의한 것으로 판명되었으며, 도금피막의 두께는 $5.99∼12.97\mum$ (단, 소지가 은인 시료 No.C는 $19.96\mum$)로 균일하고 치밀하게 도포되었다. 소지금속은 금속현미경 조직검사 결과 대부분 단조로 제조된 4.7∼11.5%의 연(Pb)을 함유하고 약 1.7% 내외의 아연(Zn)을 함유한 동합금이었다. 또한 내재된 불순물이나 기공이 매우 적은 것으로 보아 당시의 소지금속인 동합금 주조기술이 상당한 수준임을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 2017

This research involves a gilding experiment using plum acid that has previously been reported to restore Geumdongsamjonpanbul excavated from Wolji, Gyeongju. Chromaticity analysis revealed that the yellowness of the samples was high, and the samples treated with acid for more than 10 minutes showed high brightness. SEM studies revealed that the sample subjected to amalgam application and immediate heating was rarely gilded with gold. When the amalgam application time was longer than 36 h, the gold layer observed was uneven. Therefore, the optimum amalgam application time was 12-24 h. EDS analysis showed that mercury content was ~5 wt.% for samples with an acid treatment time of 20 min, lower than that in other samples. Gold gilding was successful for the sample with amalgam application time of 24 h and acid treatment time of 20 min. This sample showed the high-resolution XPS peak corresponding to Au and retains a little Hg compared with the other samples. In other words, experimental and analytical results using plum acid showed that gilding was successful when acid treatment time was 20 min and amalgam application time was 24 h. Based on these results, Geumdongsamjonpanbul excavated from Wolji, Gyeongju can be restored.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.4-17
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• 2021

This study analyzed 19 samples of harness fittings and pendants, which were excavated in Tomb No. 15 in Songhyeon-dong, Changnyeong. Harness fittings and pendants are used for ostentation, rather than practicality, and were excavated from ancient tombs in Gaya culture. So, they are considered artifacts that compare the production techniques and raw materials. This study aimed to examine the production techniques and provenience studies of Bihwa Gaya, which is estimated to be from the 5th to 6th centuries. According to the research, harness fittings were made of pure copper and were gilded with Au·Ag alloys on their surfaces. Hg was detected together and plated with a mercury amalgam method. As a result of the pendant (fish scales-pattern, oval and fish-tail shape), analysis showed that Fe in the background metal, Cu in the middle layer, and Au and Ag on the surface were the main components. The method of adhesion between Cu and Au·Ag gilded layers are plated by a mercury amalgamation method. So, it was identified by the gilt-iron·gold·bronze technique. Since the pendant (heart shaped) is found to be the main component of Fe in the background metal and Ag in the surface layer, the metal was made gilt-iron·silver technique. The background metal and gilding were additionally fixed using a rivet. The raw materials of 3 harnesses excavated from Changnyeong are plotted in zone 2 in the southern Korean Peninsula. And 16 harnesses were plotted in Chinese copper ore by Mabuchi Hishao in the Chinese Peninsula.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.309-318
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• 2015

The staff given with chair to Yi Gyeong-seok, senior official over 70 years old by King Hyeonjong of Joseon Dynasty is representative handcraft of Joseon Dynasty. Results of analysis on the metallic decoration show that the metallic ornament of the end part which is connected to the spade was made by rolling of iron plate and brass plating. The plated part is limited to the ornament of the end part connected to the spade and the plating was not applied to the spade. Brass including 20% zinc was used for the connecting part of guard while brass gilded iron was used for the spade. This suggests that the tone of the connecting part of the guard and the spade was not different for reason of visual harmonization. Potential applied plating method can be amalgam, dippping in molten brass, and brushing but the analysis result suggests that dipping in molten brass method is the most likely accepted method. The brass guard of knife was joined by tin-lead solder. Rivet used to fix the blade was made by pure iron as an optimum material which satisfies flexibility and strength.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.23
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• pp.113-129
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• 2002

This study is to disclose the gilding technique and distinctive features of using surface improvement technique in ancient gilt. There are many kinds of the ancient gilding technique so this thesis mainly focused on mercury amalgam gilding. Gilding technique can be largely divided into two branches – the cladding and amalgam method - in ancient periods. The researches have been carried out on two parts; the first is to find the making progress of amalgam on all sort of the gilding materials and the second is to show features of the gilded layer among basic metals. As a result of this experiment, to achieve good quality of amalgam, suitable particle size of the gilding material should be needed and the heating, a primary factor, has an effect on amalgam to be formed. Aspecial features of amalgam gilding, according to changing the basicmetal, would be influenced by chemical attraction for the mercury, condition of the surface and some other factors. A platers abilities and the making progress of amalgam would be influenced by a uniform and good gilding layer. In conclusion, it should be profoundly studied and investigated on the ancient gilding techniques and gold-gilt relics.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.22
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• pp.87-98
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• 2008

Microstructures and chemical compositions of 24 bronze mirrors recovered from the Korean peninsula were examined using the scanning electron microscope equipped with the energy dispersive spectrometer in an effort to characterize the treatments applied on their surface. Their provenance and chronology are mostly unspecified except for two objects from a Koryo burial site. In antiquity the surface of bronze mirrors was frequently finished by mere polishing when their tin content was high enough to guarantee the required reflectivity. In many cases, however, their surface was given a special treatment. The most typical treatment was to coat the surface with tin in two different processes referred to as wipe-tinning and amalgam-tinning. In wipe-tinning only tin was used, but in amalgam-tinning tin and mercury were used together. The surface was often coated with mercury in a process known as mercury-polishing. The present mirrors showed that all these techniques were in fact practiced, not only on the reflective surface but, in some cases, on the decorative surface. The detection of mercury played a crucial role in the assessment of a specific technique applied in each mirror. Mercury often remained in the substrate in the form of sulfide and thereby allowed the method of surface treatment to be estimated even when the coated layer was completely lost. The future study is expected to uncover the regional and temporal variation of the surface treatments to the better understanding of bronze mirrors with respect to provenance and chronology.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.16 s.16
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• pp.52-63
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• 2004

This study tries to investigate the differences in combination of gold and other metals used in the surface guilt of the gold-guilt relics found in the Seonwonsa Temple of the Korea Dynasty. Our findings are as follows. The gilded roller knobs found in the Seonwonsa Temple of the Korea Dynasty can be classified into three groups by the color of the surface guilt: gold, white-gold, red-gold. By the color it is found that gold type contains $Au\;81.0\%,\;Ag\;3.5\%,\;Cu\;5.6\%$, white-gold type contains $Au\;82.1\%,\;Ag\;10.6\%,\;Cu\;2.4\%$, and the red-gold type contains $Au\;59.9\%,\;Ag\;3.7\%,\;Cu\;33.2\%$. The gold metal used for guilt is found to be amalgam of Hg and the depth of the guilt was uneven with the average of $2.5\~25{\mu}m$. These gilded roller knobs were produced in two methods. One of them was made out of pure bronze, and the other out of bronze veneer and led. Since we found led on the outer surface, we conclude that the led juncture was later guilt with gold.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.27
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• pp.147-164
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• 2022

Over 200,000 Korean cultural heritage items are currently located abroad. They have made their way to 22 countries under different circumstances and with unique backgrounds. While some of them continue to contribute to promoting Korean culture around the world, others cannot be exhibited due to damage or poor condition. In view of these circumstances, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF) has since 2013 provided museums and art galleries abroad with support for the conservation, restoration, and utilization of the Korean cultural heritage items that they house. As a part of these efforts and on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Belgium in 2021, a gilt-bronze case for acupuncture needles dating to the Goryeo period (918-1392) from the collection of the Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH), Belgium was brought to Korea for conservation treatment. The primary purpose of this conservation treatment was to restore the original form of the relic and slow to the degree possible the progress of corrosion. The conservation treatment of the gilt-bronze case followed the fundamental order of conservation treatment: removal of corrosive substances, stabilization, and reinforcement. Since this was the first case of restoring metallic cultural properties under the abovementioned support program by the OKCHF, special methodologies distinct from those available in overseas institutions were required. Diverse scientific methods (e.g., X-ray inspection, CT scanning, 3D microscopy) were applied to identify the metalcraft techniques used in the Goryeo period. The analysis found that several designs, including lotus and scrollwork, were exquisitely engraved on the surface of the case by making dots using a round-edged chisel. A bronze plate engraved with designs was rolled into a cylindrical form. The ends were overlapped by 2 to 3 centimeters and then attached to each other by silver soldering. The overlapping ends were welded flat with nearly no gaps. As the final process in the production, the case was lavishly gilt with gold powder using amalgam gilding. The conservation treatment of the gilt-bronze case for acupunctural needles in the RMAH collection restored the original form of the relic and arrested further corrosion. Above all, it revived the historic and academic value of the overseas Korean cultural heritage through scientific analysis.