• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.9
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• pp.95-104
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• 2008

Wooden objects excavated from Gwangju Shinchang-dong, we analyzed total 40 pieces consisting of 37 pieces for analysis of species of trees, 3 pieces for analysis of lacquer. and especially it was found that in case of lacquerware and living goods like dish, diffuse-porous woods were used. As a result of this, total 7 species of trees used for wooden objects identified are Quercus spp., Cearsus spp., Prunophora spp., Acer spp., Salix spp., Populus spp. were identified. As a result of analyzing lacquered film, though there is a difference of times of lacquering between holed lacquerware and cylider type lacquerware body part 5, it was confirmed that after undercoating, black pigments and lacquer were painted on upper layer in mixture, and foundation platter for with 5 parts lacquer ware was undercoated with mixture of powdered soil, black pigments and lacquer, and then its upper layer was coated with lacquer mixed with black pigments.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.109-121
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• 2016

Mother-of-pearl turtle shell lacquerware refers to a decoration made of a mother-of-pearl, a turtle shell and metal wires. This lacquerware features bright color tone as it is produced by sprinkling metal powder over its entire surface. This study aimed to find out its material properties and characteristics by using an optical microscopy and conducting a SEM-EDS analysis on the cross section of lacquer coating. As a result, it was found that charcoal powder and soil powder were mixed for undercoating. Then a mixture of cinnabar lacquer and monoclinic arsenic sulfide mineral ($As_2S_3$) was coated on the undercoating and brass powder was sprinkled on top of it. Especially, a little amount of pigment was found on the lacquer layer, which is distinguished from the colors used for conventional lacquer patterns. In addition, it was also found that the cinnabar lacquer and monoclinic arsenic sulfide mineral were mixed together.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.122-141
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• 2016

It is known that Sung-gyu Jeon and several other Korean artisans were invited to "Joseon-Najeon Company" of Kimura Tenko in Takaoka, Japan to teach the skills of making lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl, however these artisans discovered a new tool called fretsaw during the visit, which can easily cut nacre. The introduction of fretsaw in the 1920s in Korea innovated the Jureumjil(filing) technique and dramatically changed the style of modern Korean lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl. In this paper, I will focus on the case of Sung-gyu Jeon, Kimura Tenko and "Joseon-Najeon Company". I will also examine why and how the Korean lacquerware artisans went to "Joseon-Najeon Company" in Takaoka and exactly what they did there. This analysis will help in discovering how the Korean artisans' experience in Takaoka affected their works after they came back to Korea.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.7
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• pp.53-62
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• 2006

The wooden armor frame and various lacquerware artifacts excavated from the low swamp remains in Imdang, Gyeongsan have very weak material and lacquer coating; in case they are exposed in the air, they are likely to be shrunken and deformed immediately. The wooden armor frame has large size and it might be dissolved during freeze-drying. The lacquer coating of lacquerware blocks the penetration of chemicals and it is very likely to swell or peel off during the treatment. Therefore, to prevent the dissolution during vacuum freeze-drying, the wooden armor frame was replaced with t-butanol and impregnated in t-butanol solution with PEG#3, 350 43%, and lacquerware was impregnated in PEG#3, 350 40% solution at room temperature and freeze-dried. According to the analysis of the lacquer fragment from the lacquerware, the lid and the mounted cup was pasted with the mixture of lacquer and black pigment (soot) on the base layer after the first coating and pasted two or three times more with natural lacquer; the red lacquered wooden cup was pasted with the mixture of lacquer and black pigment on the base layer and pasted once on the middle layer. The top lacquer (red) was pasted with the mixture of iron oxide(Fe₂O₃).

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.114-125
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• 2016

Lacquer is one of the most widely used natural resin in East Asia since Neolithic Age. As a major ingredient of lacquerware, lacquer is waterproof, insect-proof and rot-proof to be durable and anti-abrasion, generally utilized for mainly painting purpose. According to lacquerware excavated from several sites of Japan and China, lacquerware seems to appear in Neolithic Age. On the other hand in case of excavation research in Korea, lacquerwares are found after the Bronze Age. The initial purpose of lacquer is estimated to be adhesive, regarding the literatures mentioning bitumen(Yeoksceong ), animal glue(Kyeo) and egg alumen(Nanbaek). Especially piece of jar coffin unearthed in Pyeongtaek Daechu-ri site had trace of restoration by lacquer and hemp as an evidence of lacquer for adhesion in Pre-Three Kingdoms period. Since then a trend to restore the broken ceramics with lacquer and decorate with golden foil lasted especially in Joseon Dynasty. In the field of gold plated lacquer method, mother-of-pearl inlaying technique for lacquerware and restoration of buildings, lacquer is still used as adhesive. Due to matter of reversibility lacquer is being avoided for conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Lacquer as a traditional material for adhesive since ancient times, however, has advantage in adhesion strength and durability. Because synthetic resin adhesive has problem of emission of volatile organic compounds and aging over time, lacquer receives attention recently. On the contrary, by combination adhesive from mixing lacquer and animal glue, already proved the possibility of applicability and chemical modification. A research to utilize lacquer as modern paint or functional material is also conducted continuously also in China and Japan. To put traditional material into practical use and modernize, chemical research from the molecular level of the lacquer is necessary in the near future.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.15
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• pp.78-95
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• 2014

To examine the materials, production techniques, and key features of Goryeo wooden lacquerwares, scientific analysis was conducted on six relevant lacquerware items. All of the items, except for a lacquered bowl ^{duksu 4123}, were found to have been made by first covering the surface of the wood with cloth and then varnishing with lacquer. The wooden frames of flower-shaped lacquered case and pine leaves shape lacquered case were made by wrapping thin wood around either the lid or bottom panel. In most cases, microscopic analysis revealed a lower layer of lacquer mixed with bone ash and bone dust, followed by an upper varnish layer of lacquer. SEM-EDS analysis and μ-XRF ^{Micro-X-ray Fluorescence} analysis showed that vermilion lacquer mixed with cinnabar was used on the surface. A lid decorated with a dot pattern was made by first varnishing the surface with yellow lacquer mixed with orpiment, and then irregular dot pattern with a mixture of black lacquer and soot. The vermilion lacquer used to varnish the side of the lacquered bowls was composed of lacquer mixed with cinnabar and minium ^{Red Lead}.

• Acta Via Serica
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.95-124
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• 2023

Over the past 30 years, intense archaeological research has revealed a great increase in regional and transregional object mobility across the South China Sea during its Iron Age (500 BCE to 500 CE). Some objects had moved from a long distance: intaglios, seals, fine ceramic, glass containers, and gold coins of Mediterranean origin; and large bronzes, mirrors, and lacquerware connected to central East Asia. This evidence has given rise to larger-scale explanations, among which the most prominent has been the growth of (maritime) Silk Road trade. Scholars are divided as to whether the Silk Road is a suitable concept, with some emphasizing its orientalist overtones and colonial baggage and others finding it useful for the investigation of interregional networks trading in silk and other commodities. This paper explores how productive the Silk Road concept or metaphor really is for understanding transregional connectivity and social change in Iron Age Southeast Asia.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.126-144
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• 2024

The chrysanthemum vine pattern box from the Goryeo Dynasty expresses in great detail the representative features of Goryeo Dynasty lacquerware with mother-of-pearl, such as engraving patterns on the surface of fine mother-of-pearl, expressing vine stems using metal wires, and twisting metal wires to form the boundaries of each patterns. While the lacquerware with mother-of-pearl that remains today from the Goryeo Dynasty has the form of a sutra box and a box with lid, the chrysanthemum vine pattern box that is the subject of this study is in the shape of a box with a separate lid and body, making it difficult to estimate the purpose of production or the stored contents. In this study, we attempted to confirm the formative characteristics of the chrysanthemum vine pattern box in order to confirm its original form, and to investigate its structure and production technique through X-ray transmission. In addition, we attempted to identify the use and production purpose of the box by classifying and comparing the previously known lacquerware with mother-ofpearl from the Goryeo Dynasty by type. As a result of the investigation, fabric was confirmed the bottom of body and inner box through X-ray images. Through this, it was confirmed that the 'Mogsimjeopichilgi'(wooden core grabbing fabric technique) of wrapping the object with fabric was used. And through wood grain, it was possible to confirm the wooden board composition of the part presumed to be the restored part and the part presumed to have had existing Jangseog. In addition, it was confirmed that the joints were connected in a Majdaeim(part to part). Based on the survey results, a total of 14 pieces, including 9 Sutra boxes, 3 boxes, and 2 small boxes, that remain from the Goryeo Dynasty were classified by type and examined for similarity. Among them, there is a "Chrysanthemum Vine Pattern Sutra Box" from a private collection in Japan, a "Black Lacquered Chrysanthemum Arabesque Bun Sutra Box" from the Tokugawa Art Museum, a "Sutra Holder" from the British Museum, and a "Small Box with a Mother-of-Pearl Chrysanthemum Vine Pattern" from a private collection in Korea. The pattern composition of five points was most similar to the subject of this study. As a result of comparing the damage pattern, formative characteristics, and structural features of each part, it is presumed that the sutra holder in the British Museum was transformed into its current form from the original the chrysanthemum vine patterned box. Lastly, in order to confirm the purpose of production, that is, the use of this box, we investigated examples of Tripitaka Koreana printed version produced at a time similar to the social atmosphere of Goryeo at the time. Following the Mongol(元) invasion after the Goryeo military regime at the time, sutras appeared to pray for the stability of the nation and the soul of an individual, and with the development of domestic printing and paper in the 13th century, it gradually coincided with the transition from a scroll to a folded form, and the form of a box changed from a box. It is believed that the storage method also changed.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.5
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• pp.37-41
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• 2004

The immersed ancient wood relics excavated from the low swampy area of historic site in Shinchangdong, Gwangju are extremely weak. Since they are quickly dried inducing shrinkage when exposed to air, special preservative treatment is required to exhibit and preserve such items. In the case of the heavily varnished lacquerware such as the lacquered sheaths, in particular, it is extremely difficult to preserve them because chemicals are not easily penetrated and the coating might swell or come off during the process of coating. The lacquer sheaths have been preserved by carrying out freeze-drying after impregnating them in aqueous solution with low concentration of PEG#4000 40%.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.19
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• pp.109-132
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• 1998

According to excavation of Imdang site, these sites were excavated place to a various of sites from Early lron period to the Koryo Kingdom. Artifacts to be conserved were excavated from A, D and E district. Metal artifacts were excavated from D and E district and lacquer ware artifacts were excavated from Adistrict. Metal artifacts including lacquer ware iron sword, imitative bronze mirror, Osujen and bronze artifact with letter and so on. Bronze artifacts were covered with soil and rust and performed consolidation after passivation treatment with Benzotriazole solution. Also, iron artifacts performed desalting treatment with 0.1M sesquicarbonate solution. After desalinization, adhesive of these artifacts were processed with Araldite(rapid type) after consolidation with20%∼30% NAD-10 solution. Lacquer ware artifacts remained fragments of lacquer to be all corroded and soiled. Therefore these artifacts retained its original form. Fragments of lacquer joined with Caparol 1%∼3% solution and the soil of relics coated with PSNY 3%∼6% solution. There were many kinds of lacquer were. Lacquer ware artifacts presumed to a string instrument that provide important clues for lacquer ware research. As for lacquer fragments inquire, paints grain size were $2∼5\mum$ and conformed to vanished three times.