• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.3
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• pp.65-69
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• 2001

Scientific analysis are carried on gilded ornamental shoes, which have been excavated from tomb No 1. and No 4. in Beopcheon-ri, Wonju dated from Baekje Period. This object is a very important because it provides valuable information on the development of metal-making techniques of that period. Thus, this article illustrates the investigation conducted to reveal how the object was created using what materials and techniques. Instead of the spikes-attached to the bottom plate of the object-that couldn't be sampled, a sample of a decorative rivet showing a similar structure to the spikes-attached to the other parts of the shoes-was prepared for a cross-section examination. Using radiography and microscopes, it was found that the head of a spike was placed and then punched to the gilded plate, so it can be held to the shoes. Under the SEM-EDS, the cross-section of the rivet shows that the gilding layer was applied before the attachment of the rivets. It also shows that the gilding layer is distributed unevenly and there are empty spaces indicating amalgam gilding was employed. This was confirmed as Mercury was detected on the SEM-EDS analysis of the object. The examination of the microstructure of the plate using the SEM-EDS revealed that the object is made of a single copper alloy plate with recrystallized twining and non-metallic white inclusions, which found to be lead in this case.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 2021

In this study, the research objects are gilt plated silver-iron nails excavated from the west of the tombs in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo. A gilt plated silver-iron nail was fabricated by combining silver and iron via heating and then gilding amalgam on top of this combination, demonstrating that this ancient artifact that can be replicated using current technology. Since the metal (Au, Ag) surface of these gilt plated artifacts are covered with iron oxide, which slips into the cracks and scratches of the artifacts as well, desalination is essential. Based on the results of the preliminary experiment, the research objects were classified into grades A, B, and C, according to the degree of corrosion and then desalinated using an alkali solution (NaOH, Sodium Sesquicarbonate of 0.1 M) at 60℃. The results demonstrate that the more serious is the degree of corrosion, the more is the amount of Cl^- detected. Further, more Cl^- was released when NaOH was used than when sodium sesquicarbonate was used, for all grades except Grade A. Furthermore, the more serious is the degree of corrosion, the longer is the desalination period and the reaction with NaOH for all grades except Grade A. A comparison of the Fe composition of the surface before and after desalination shows that Fe composition is the use of NaOH resulted in a smaller increase compared with the use of sodium sesquicarbonate, for all grades except Grade B. However, four of the nails were damaged owing to NaOH (Grade B 3ea, Grade C 1ea) during desalination. Thus, Cl^- ions are more stably released when sodium sesquicarbonate is used than when NaOH is used.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2019

The gilt bronze statue, Seated Avalokiteshvara with a Thousand Hands, of the Goryeo dynasty, is the only one in Korea of its kind that has undergone a conservation process for the special exhibition entitled GORYEO: The Glory of Korea. For the conservation treatment, first, a component analysis (XRF) was conducted, and a manufacturing technique (CT) was analyzed. The results of the investigation revealed that the statue was alloyed with Cu, Sn, and Pb ternary bronze. Its surface, except for the detached plating layers, was originally plated using the mercury amalgam method. This statue was assembled after separately casting each part of the body, such as the left and right arms and the wrists, including the hands, with objects. In particular, each wrist was cast and fitted with a metal nail to express each object in the hands more precisely. Inside the statue, there were five iron cores: two for the head, one for the left elbow, one for the right flank, and one for the right waist. For the preservative treatment, natural adhesive agents, including vegetable gelatin and glue (20%), were mixed with alcohol to protect the base metal and adhere to the plating layers. Using synthetic resin (CDK 520+SN-sheet) for the damaged parts, the restored parts could be attached and detached to/from the statue. Eventually, the compositional analysis and conservation treatment left the statue in a stable condition and ready for exhibitions and future studies.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.417-427
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• 2010

This study is to examine the manufacturing technique based on scientific investigation and analysis on Steel-Plated Jewel Beetle's Adornment gilt-bronze openwork remains excavated from No. 100 site at Hwango-dong Gyeongju. As a result of the investigation on the manufacturing revealed that riveting was adopted to connect gilt-bronze openwork plates and steel plates, followed by mercury amalgam plating method and carving of the patterns by means of the dotted line engraving technique. There were some traces on the surface of Jewel Beetle wings that show the use of pins for fixing, which seems to be the result of recycling or processing. The sectional analysis shows the high possibilities that varnishing with lacquer was adopted for wing adhesion, and it was confirmed that varnishing with lacquer was used on the strap pendant plate to prevent corrosion.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

For the silver artifacts in the Koryo Dynasty excavated from Neungnae-ri Ganghwa island, the metallographic section analysis and hardness and chemical analysis were conducted. After making samples in the similar ratio of the composition concentration, the changes of the microstructure were checked according to the working method and temperature. The results show that those silver artifacts are Au-Cu alloys with 2 to 6 % of Cu. From the results it is judged that Cu was artificially alloyed with them to keep the proper hardness and identified that they were gilded by the amalgamation process seeing that mercury was included at the guilt layer. Also the porous texture on the surface of them could be formed at over $400^{\circ}C$, therefore, it is assumed the hot working or heat treatment at over $400^{\circ}C$ were performed. In silver artifacts made by the relief and repousse, they have the similar composition analysis to other 7 artifacts but the hardness is lower than pure silver. Consequently from differences in the hardness, it can be inferred that the low hardness of silver artifacts is concerned with manufacturing techniques.