• 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.25 no.4
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• pp.347-361
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• 2009

The Pohang Chilpori is the area with abundant petroglyphs in Korea. The form of the shield, female sex organs, and yut board on the outcrops or float rocks which are composed of the rhyolitic rock are engraved on Chilpori and Shinheungri Petroglyphs. The rhyolitic rock is composed of the phenocryst and groundmass with quartz and feldspar. The rock surface shows mostly yellowish brown color and the rock surface is very irregular by serious weathering, and illite and kaolinite, a kind of the clay minerals, are produced. Deterioration aspects are mainly of surface exfoliation, grain peel-off, damages, scribbling. Chilpori Petroglyph (1) plane has been eroded by running water, in (2) plane has been abrased is on the rock surface, in (3) plane shows surface exfoliation and the various part of the rock surface in plane (4) has become the soil. The corrasion and black phenomenon of the Shinheungri Petroglyph (1) plane was formed by running water, and surface exfoliation and scribbling in plane (2) is serious. Deterioration factors are geomorphologic states, plants, rock of weak to weathering, and artificial influence such as a scribbling and a forest fire. For conservation of the these petroglyphs, study for rock surface conservation and the arrangement of around petroglyphs and construction of water wall are necessary.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2011

A precision measurement and digital image restoration of the 5th century's gilt bronze cap of Baekje dynasty, excavated from the ancient tomb of Andong, Goheung in 2006, was undertaken. The objective of the scanning is to preserve precise feature of the artefact in the form of digital data by embodying it in 3 dimensional space. Acquirement of the data has been undertaken in the following process : 3D scanning to obtain 3D shape and color information(original data photographing)-3D modelling(joining original data and restoring non-photographed or damaged area)-CG image production. Production of restoration CG image was based on joined shape of original data and each part's measurement on CAD. Non-photographed part and area of loss was restored referring actual measurement and research result of excavated cap from the 5th to 8th century. 3D image restoration is one of artefact restoration methods which restores artefact without risk. It is also undertaken with historical research. As result, this method can enhance aesthetic and academic value of the artefact by successful restoration.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.17
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• pp.69-84
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• 2016

Yuso is the term for decorative tassels of a braided string which hangs a scroll painting. This study, drawing on extant research concerning the yuso made for Joseon period portrait scrolls of kings and meritorious retainers, focuses on the yuso created to hang literati portraits. Concretely, It examines yuso of seven portraits in the collection of the National Museum of Korea in order to characterize their appearance and determine their material composition. The study found that most of the yuso are sixteen-strand strings braided into a rounded cross-section(dongdahoe). The seven yuso, of which six are red and one indigo-blue, reflect the popular style associated with Joseon period literati portraits. The yuso for the portrait of Yun Geup(duksu 3503) is made from gilded paper. Analysis showed Fe particles present in a red pigment underlying the gold layer, suggesting the presence of red ochre(seokganju), an iron oxide mineral. The yuso of the portrait of Shin Im(duksu 4846) is used a paper which contains gold as well as traces of Pb, Hg and Ag. The paper in the yuso for the portrait of Yi Seongwon(bongwan 10122) mainly consisted of Ag, indicating silver paper having been used in its fabrication. The inner paper in the yuso of the portrait of Yi Seogu(sinsu 1065) is a leather combined with Ag, Fe, and Br, according to chemical analysis. The FTIR of the leather sample reveals that the spectrum in the fingerprint region is nearly identical to that of sheepskin, indicating the yuso was made from gold-coated sheepskin.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.405-420
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• 2020

A convergence research was conducted on glass beads excavated at the ruins of Hapgang-ri, Sejong, using the archeology and conservation approach. The period of appearance of Jugu Towangmyo in the ruins of Hapgang-ri can be estimated to begin in the late 2^nd century; for Jugu Towangmyo No. 15, the period spans from the late 2^nd to early 3^rd century. Form, color, and manufacturing techniques of complete glass beads were examined, and the cross-sections and chemical composition of 16 samples were observed. Based on these analyses, the glass beads were divided into blue, purple, and red colors. The blue-colored beads could be further sub-divided based on their gloss and brightness; in contrast, the red-colored beads were highly uniform with regard to these parameters. Based on the stripe and bubble arrangement on the surface of the glass beads, their drawing technique was identified. Traces of heat treatment or polishing were observed at the ends of the beads. According to their chemical composition, the 16 samples were classified into 3 potash glass and 13 soda glass groups; in the latter, the properties of the stabilizers were divided according to the blue and red bead colors. The stabilizers of the red beads are unique in that they allow the distinction among beads excavated in other areas in South Korea owing to their compositional differences. Colorants in blue- and red-colored beads are cobalt (containing MnO), and copper and iron, respectively.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2018

This study revealed the material composition and characteristics of 19 glass fragments excavated from stone chamber No. 1 of Jeongchon Tomb in Naju through chemical composition analyses and observations. These characteristics were compared with the characteristics of the glass fragments excavated from No. 3 tomb of Bogam-ri in Naju. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of the ancient glass of the Mahan-Baekje period. The glass fragments excavated from the Jeongchon Tombs can be classified into purplish blue, light-purplish blue, greenish blue, green, and mixture of purple blue and purple, based on their color. These beads were made using a drawn and casting technique. In addition, blue glass fragments were primarily excavated form No. 3 tomb of Bogam-ri. However, red glass fragments were not excavated from either of the tombs. According to chemical composition analyses, soda glass group and potash glass group were common in both the tombs. Additionally, alkali mixed glass group and lead barium glass group were excavated from Jeongchon Tombs and No. 3 tomb of Bogam-ri, respectively. The glass fragments excavated from No. 3 tomb of Bogam-ri have more color variations than those excavated from Jeongchon Tombs.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.3
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• pp.71-78
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• 2001

The airtightness of museum cases in museums was measured by using CO₂ tracing gas, but it has been pointed that it has a problem with measuring the airtightness of a museum case which has a hole inside before it is used or while is being used. So studies tried to come up with alternatives which make it possible to measure the airtightness of a museum case before it is used or while it is being used if necessary by indirectly measuring the airtightness of the museum case without changing its form. Indirect measuring is done by measuring the change of Art-sorb weight and the change of temperature and humidity inside the museum case. Experiments were made for 12 days with three builtin wall case installed at the same place without turning on the lights but with Art-sorb and the data logger of temperature and humidity put into museum case. The change rate was produced with the change of temperature and humidity inside the museum case divided by that of those around museum case. As a result, the temperature change rate of museum case A(0.67) was lower than that of museum case B(0.69) or museum case C(0.79). The humidity change rate of museum case A(0.12) was lower than that of museum case B(0.19) or museum case C(0.72) showing that its airtightness was the best. Also in the direct airtightness measurement by CO₂ tracing gas, the air exchange rate was compared with the humidity change rate by Art-sorb in the indirect measurement.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2019

The material composition of 19 ornaments used for women's hats in the late $19^{th}$ century to $20^{th}$ century, which are kept at National Folk Museum of Korea, was analyzed using SEM-EDS. Sixteen ornaments were composed of $Na_2O$ and PbO, which form adifferent lead glass from those that have been excavated or handed down since ancient times in Korea. The chemical composition analysis has confirmed that two ornaments belong to the mixed alkali glass, while one belongs to the potash glass IIItype. This lead glass is similar in composition to the Japanese craft lead glass that was imported to Joseon during the Japanese colonial era. It is estimated that the lead glass ornaments used in women's hats in the late $19^{th}$ century to $20^{th}$ century were made from raw materials imported from Japan or made from lead glass used for crafts in Japan. This shows that jewelry such as jade and amber, which have been traditionally used in the modern and present ages, have been replaced by craft lead glass imported from Japan.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.120-134
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• 2021

A Woolen carpet from the late Joseon Dynasty was unearthed in the process of repairing Seongjeonggak in Changdeokgung. Since relics are rarer than documentary records, the woolen carpet is highly valued as a relics. It is presumed to have been woven in the late 19th or early 20th century because there is a record of repairing Seongjeonggak in 1907. In the carpet, a pattern is made by inserting colored yarn dyed yellow and red onto a reddish-purple ground weave. The selvage of the woolen carpet used cotton thread, and jute is used for the warp and weft of the ground weave. The colored patterns is made of wool in the form of loop pile. Cut piles may appear occasionally when the colored yarn changes, but are almost invisible from the surface because they are pressed tightly with a shuttered weft. Making carpets with jute and wool is thought to be influenced by the Brussels carpets of the mid-18th century. Furthermore, the woolen carpet is torn and the pattern is completely unclear; however, it is understandable that the pattern is partially repeated. Microscopic and Fourier transform-Infrared spectrometer(FT-IR) analyses were performed for the above investigation. To identify the dyes used in relics, we compared them with natural dyed fabric samples based on chromaticity measurements and Ultraviolet/Visible spectrophotometer(UV-Vis) analysis. These analyses revealed that the woolen carpet's dyed green yarn did not use indigo, and reddish-purple ground weave is estimated to have used Caesalpinia sappan.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2011

The material characteristics of Chos$\breve{o}$n whiteware were investigated by analyzing and comparing the body and glaze compositions of whiteware shards excavated at the Kwangju royal kilns, Ch'unghyodong, and four other local-level kilns. In Korea, the rise of whiteware technology began in the early years of the Chos$\breve{o}$n dynasty, when the indigenous tradition of Kory$\breve{o}$ celadon was strongly influenced by the whiteware aesthetics of the Chinese Ming dynasty. The Kwangju royal kilns eventually made hard-textured whiteware of a quality equivalent to that of the Chinese by using type of porcelain stone that contained slightly less $Fe_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ and slightly more $K_2O$ than that used for celadon. In contrast, the potters of Ch'unghyodong achieved the same level of quality by finding and using a totally different material: kaolinitic clay. The porcelain stone used at the Kwangju kiln was commonly found in Korea and south China, whereas kaolinitic clay (which has a high aluminum content) was typically found in north China, and was only rarely used in Korea. The flux component of the glaze compositions was mostly limestone, first in burnt form and later in crushed form, and the clay component was often glaze stone, which was a finer-grained porcelain stone with a higher proportion of feldspar. In the future, this comparative analytical study of Korean whiteware components should be extended to the $18^{th}$- and $19^{th}$-century kilns that are currently being excavated at a rapid pace.