• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.17
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• pp.85-100
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• 2016

The Bukji-ri Stone Pensive Bodhisattva of Bonghwa in the collection of Kyungpook National University Museum was transported to the National Museum of Korea for display in a special exhibition('Masterpieces of Early Buddhist Sculpture 100 BCE - 700 CE') and therefore underwent conservation ahead of the exhibition's start date. The stone sculpture had visibly encrusted surface dirt, granular disintegration and fissures upon arrival. Notably, a crack running obliquely across its lower half rendered the object unable to support its own weight without a pedestal, so one was created in order to maintain the sculpture in an upright position while on exhibition. The sculpture was further examined using a polarizing microscope and a stereoscopic microscope. SEM-EDS resulted in petrographic analysis of the stone's mineral composition and identification of its surface contaminants. Polarizing light microscopy confirmed biotite granite as the main mineral component of the object. Several urethane resins cast in round cross-sections were inserted into the newly made pedestal and stability tests were perform to measure the frictional force of the resins. An additional test was performed to compare urethane resin and epoxy resin, with results showing urethane to have a higher coefficient of friction. Utilizing a pedestal with urethane resin effectively ensured the stability of the Bukji-ri Stone Pensive Bodhisattva of Bonghwa during the aforementioned exhibition.