• 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.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.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2012

This study discusses a mercury amalgam gilding technique and examines how the color, surface and section of the gilt layer changes as the condition of heat treatment with mercury amalgam gilt object is changed. Some previous studies have mentioned reasons for various colors on gilt bronze artifacts depending on gilding manufacture and environment. However, reason for reddish color with gold on the artifacts' surface brought on high temperature corrosion has yet to be discussed and analyzed. A methodology was found in representing the mercury amalgam gilding technique and heat treatment test. According to the result of the heat treatment test, in the conditions of higher temperature and longer time, the oxidized layer on the gilt layer was distributed more widely and in the part when the oxide layer was eliminated, the gilt layer with a reddish color was observed. Moreover, in the surface observation of the specimen on which yellow and reddish colors were agitated, the changing aspects of its surface condition differed by colors. When investigated the section, it was observed that the void density and size became larger. After a test, the surface components changed; the temperature of heat treatment increased, component ratio of Hg and Au decreased gradually but component ratio of Cu increased. In regard to the gilt layer, as the time was longer and the temperature became higher for the heat treatment, the component ratio of Au and Cu by layers tended to change in inverse proportion. It is concluded that gilding techniques and the burial environment can make a difference in the surface color of the gilt layer on the gilt bronze artifacts, the high temperature corrosion that occurs by heat after they are manufactured is also one of the factors that affects their surface color.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.42-43
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• 2003

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.55-60
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• 2005

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2010

Four gilded bronze objects and a gilded silver object were examined for elemental diffusion between the gilding layer and the mating matrix. The gilded bronzes consist of three objects from three different historical periods, the Korean Three Kingdoms period, the Koryo and the Choseon periods and one from an unknown period. The gilded silver was from the Koryo period. The amalgam process seems to have been the major technique employed for all of them in gilding. The occurrence of substantial diffusion was observed in all but the anonymous object, particularly in the Choseon artifact where evidence was found that the diffusion phenomenon was intentionally utilized in gilding. The gold content in the gilded bronzes decreases gradually from surface to interior while the copper content increases to the interior, making it difficult to locate the boundary between the gilding layer and the matrix. This gradual change in composition must have resulted from elemental diffusion at elevated temperatures. The oxygen content negligible in the gilding layer precludes the possibility of corrosion being responsible for the varying composition. It is observed that non-uniform diffusion caused variation of colors in the surface of gilded bronzes. The change of colors induced by diffusion, which is always accompanied by the unique surface morphology and chemical compositions, is distinguished from the color change by corrosion. In the gilded silver object, diffusion of mercury was observed along with that of gold and silver.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.296-305
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• 2020

Konbaung Dynasty was the last unified dynasty that ruled Myanmar from 18^th to 19^th century. During this time Buddhist art flourished in Myanmar due to the interest of the rulers toward their traditional culture. Metal decorative artifacts in the 18^th century are classified into structures and Buddha statues. They are further subdivided into gilt-bronze and bronze objects, depending on their material component. Three-dimensional gilt-bronze decorative artifacts were cast with a brass alloy of Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb and their surfaces were gilded with extremely thin gold leaves (less than 1 ㎛ in thickness). The gilded layer approximately comprised 10 wt% silver in addition to the main element, gold. The lack of Hg in the gilded layer, indicated that the amalgam gilding technique was not applied. The analysis results indicated that the lacquered gilding technique was applied to the objects. Bronze decorative artifacts without gilding were cast with materials containing Cu-Sn-Pb. The bronze pavilions and bronze Buddha staues were crafted using the same alloy of high-tin bronze, which approximately contained 20 wt% Sn. No heat treatment was applied to reduce the brittleness of the objects after they were cast with a large amount of Sn. The most significant difference between the gilt-bronze and bronze decorative artifacts lie in their elemental compositions. The gilt-bronze decorative artifacts with their gilded surface were manufactured using brass containing zinc, while the unplated bronze decorative artifacts were composed of bronze containing tin. Artifacts of the same type and size are classified differently depending on the materials utilized in the surface treatment such as gilding.

• 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.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.27
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• pp.23-42
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• 2006

This study is about gilt bronze ornament, that is from Deok Cheon-Ri in Gyeong Ju, of conservation treatment process and of scientific analysis. This relic gathered with soil around the relic by Polyurethane foam. While the relic got rid of soil, Took X-rays. As the result, we decided to process reconstruction as condition that the relic was dug up. After the conservation treatment processed, we made a frame to display the relic. Investigated manufacture techniques of the relic after the conservation treatment processed, and thenexecuted scientific analysis of the relic for a chemical experiment. A analysis of the results of components for composition layers using the SEM-EDS can be briefly summarized as below; Firstly, the average contents of outer, inner and body corrosion layer have a Cu-60.9~39.3wt% and analyzed a little impurities material which is Fe-0.5wt%.Secondly, the average contents of body have a Cu-99.7wt% which was using manufactured by pure copper. Thirdly, gold layer have a mercury of 9.5wt% which indicate that layer was manufactured by mercury amalgam gilding technique.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 1999

Conservation treatments were done for the gilt bronze saddle accessory excavated from Tomb No. 89 in Kyo-dong, Changnyong in Japanese rule period. The saddle accessory, broken into numerous pieces, was mixed with other remains. Principal aims of conservation treatments were to recover original shape of object and stabilize its material. In the process of treatments manufacturing technique of the remain was examined minutely. Thick layers of corrosion substances were peeled off and numerous pieces were pasted together to restore the original shape. And then the saddle accessory was mounted on an acrylic board to be handled and exhibited safely. In this process, it was confirmed that various ancient techniques of metalic crafts such as amalgam gilding, riveting, piercing, line engraving, stamping, chasing etc. had been used to make the saddle accessory.