• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.100-116
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• 2023

The Sinamsa Temple was built in the late Goryeo Dynasty and a gilt-bronze seated Buddha is enshrined in Geungnakjeon hall in the precinct. Various damages occurred in the gilt layer of the Buddha, such as peeling of the gilt layer and deteriorating gloss. In the study, the conservation conditions of the inside and outside on the statue were accurately investigated, and the making technique was interpreted through the material characteristics and non-destructive diagnosis of the statue. As a result, it is estimated that gold-gilding layer is pure gold, coloration pigment of black is carbon, green is malachite, atacamite and verdigris, red is red lead and cinnabar, respectively. In the deterioration evaluation, peeling, cracking, break out and exfoliation of the gilt layer are confirmed as damages, but the conservation condition is relatively wholesome. However, the gloss of the gilt layer is calculated to be wider in the poorer part than the maintenance part. The ultrasonic velocity of the statue was calculated to be 1,230 to 3,987 (mean 2,608) m/s and showed a relatively wide range. In infrared thermography, peeling was not confirmed, and no special bonding marks were found. In endoscope, some biological damage and corrosion were observed on the surface of the internal metal, and sealed artifacts were identified. Manufacturing technique based on the study, it is considered that the gilt-bronze seated Buddha was cast at once, and the mold was inverted to inject molten metal.