Spectroscopic Study of An Icon Painted on Wooden Panel

Russian icon painted on wooden panel analyzed in this work is interesting for art historians because there is no precise information in which workshops it was made or who the author was. Similar icons are often found in churches and monasteries in our region. In order to obtain information about materials used for creation of investigated icon two micro-analytical techniques were used: Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Obtained results confirmed presence of following materials: lead-white, vermilion, minium, ultramarine, brown and green earth pigments and silver in combination with yellow organic varnish, which served to an iconographer for gilding. Ground layer was made of calcite. Blue pigment ultramarine was probably used for blue colour as well as for obtaining particulars hues in several parts of the paint layer. This can be important information for further research concerning particular workshop in which the icon was made. Identified materials are typical for Russian iconography of the 19th century

Spectroscopic investigation of two Serbian icons painted on canvas

A multianalytical study of two Serbian icons, The Virgin and Child and St. Petka, painted on canvas by unknown authors was performed in order to identify the materials used as pigments, binders and the ground layer. The investigated icons belong to the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. Samples, collected from different parts of the icons, were analysed by: optical microscopy (OM), energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence (EDXRF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The obtained results revealed the presence of the following pigments: Prussian Blue, ultramarine, Green Earth, iron oxides, Lead White and Zinc White. Linseed oil was used as the binder. The materials used for the ground layers were gypsum, calcite, baryte and Lead White. The gilded surface of the icon The Virgin and Child was made of gold. The gilded surface on the frame of this icon was made of imitation of gold, i.e., Schlagmetal, since EDXRF spectroscopy showed the presence of copper and zinc, while gold was not detected. Based on the style and the consideration of an art historian, as well as on the obtained results for the corresponding pigments and binder, both icons were most probably made at the end of 19th or the beginning of the 20th century

Physicochemical characterisation of pottery from the Vinca culture, Serbia, regarding the firing temperature and decoration techniques

A study of decorated Neolithic pottery samples from the excavation site Plocnik, Serbia, was performed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The investigated samples belong to the era of the Vinca culture that existed in the central Balkan region from the mid VI until the first half of the V millennium BCE. The mineralogical composition of the pottery samples and comparison of the investigated pottery with thermally treated local clay indicated firing temperatures in the range from 600 to 800 degrees C. Two different types of white pigments were identified in white incrusted decorations: calcium carbonate and bone white (composed of crushed bones). This is the first evidence of the use of bones for decorations in pottery of the Vinca culture from the excavation site Plocnik. In addition to this, it was revealed that the potters used the iron reduction technique for obtaining black decorations

Spectroscopic investigation of milo milunović’s canvas painting “the inspiration of the poet”

A canvas painting by Milo Milunović “The Inspiration of the poet” was investigated in this work by multianalitical approach in order to identify pigments used by the artist as well as his painting technique. Results obtained by optical microscopy, fluorescence photography under UV light, energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and FTIR Spectroscopy revealed following pigments on the painting: lead white, zinc white, cobalt blue, red pigment vermilion, green pigment viridian, as well as several earth colours. Optical micrographs show regions with no separation between layers, indicating that these areas were painted wet paint over wet paint

Physicochemical investigation of medieval ceramics from excavation site Novo Brdo

Artefacts produced or treated at high temperatures provide information about manufacturing techniques. Well preserved ceramic objects are therefore excellent chronological markers as well as general markers of society development. In order to determine provenance of pottery fragments, archaeologists classify samples according to their physical characteristics, decoration and aesthetic style. However, a more objective multidisciplinary approach, based on undoubted results, is necessary to complete this study. In this work we have investigated 27 samples of medieval ceramics from excavation site Novo Brdo, using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Novo Brdo was large and rich mining and trading center of Serbia in XIV and XV century. A large number of ceramic samples found during the systematic excavation of this archaeological site allow good choice of samples for both destructive and nondestructive analysis. Combining results obtained by different experimental techniques, i.e. by FT-IR spectroscopy, after deconvolution of the spectra, and XRPD analysis, we have determined mineralogical composition and technology of production of investigated pottery. Estimated temperature of firing ranged from 800 to 900 °C, which is in agreement with the presence of high-temperature minerals like gehlenite and anorthite. Firing was preformed in the oxidation atmosphere since hematite, which is formed only in oxidation atmosphere, is detected in all investigated samples. Cross sections showed presence of defects and inhomogeneity of investigated ceramic, which indicates fast and incomplete firing procedure. All these findings indicate that investigated pottery was produced in the domestic workshops. The obtained results will be used to build up the National database for medieval ceramics as well as the database for the Balkan region

The incorporation of Me-histidine complexes in the structure of FAU-type zeolite: Characterization of the obtained materials

L-histidine, a naturally occurring amino acid, was incorporated inside the supercages of FAU type zeolite in a form of Me-complex entity (Me = Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(III)). The preparation was done either by ion-exchange procedure, or previously prepared Me-histidine complex was incorporated into the a cages of Y zeolite by occlusion. The preparation procedure was found to be a very important factor, as well as the amount of metal complex loaded on the zeolite. The characterization of obtained samples was performed using Diffuse Reflectance Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (DRUV-Vis), 13C MAS NMR and Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). It was noticed that 1-hostidine interacted with the zeolitic framework, and with the extra-framework cation, as well. The results obtained by TG-DSC/MAS technique, revealed that the thermal stability of incorporated histidine was increased, in comparison with that one of pure histidine

The characterization of canvas painting by the Serbian artist Milo Milunovic using X-ray fluorescence, micro-Raman and FTIR spectroscopy

A canvas painting by Milo Milunovic The Inspiration of the poet was studied by energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence (EDXRF), micro-Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in order to identify materials used by the artist and his painting technique. Study is perfomed combining in situ non-destructive method with the preparation and study of cross-section samples and raw fragments of the samples. Milo Milunovic, an eminent painter from Balkan region, made a copy of the Nicolas Poussins original painting in Louvre in 1926/27. Obtained results revealed following pigments on the investigated canvas painting: vermilion, minium, cobalt blue, ultramarine, lead white, zinc white, cadmium yellow, chrome-based green pigment and several earth pigments - red and yellow ocher, green earth and umber. Ground layer was made of lead white mixed with calcium carbonate. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Investigation of medieval ceramics from Ras by physicochemical methods

Although early medieval Serbian ceramic is well described by the archeologists and historians, knowledge of the Balkan ceramic production is still limited. Archaeometric study of ceramics provenance, technology of preparation and used pigments as well as influence of neighboring countries and specific characteristics of different workshops has never been performed so far. The detailed knowledge of the micro-chemical and micro-structural nature of an archaeological artifact is critical in finding solutions to problems of restoration, conservation, dating and authentication in the art world. In this work we present results of systematic investigation of pottery shards from archeological site Ras. The term Ras, which signifies both the fortress and the region encompassing the upper course of Raška River, used to be the center of the medieval Serbian state. Both the ceramic body and the polychromatic glaze of the artifacts were studied by a multianalitical approach combining optical microscopy (OM), FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Mineralogical composition of pottery shards has been determined combining results obtained by FT-IR spectroscopy, after deconvolution of the spectra, and XRPD analysis. Firing temperature has been estimated based on the mineralogical composition and positions of Si-O stretching (-1000 cm-1) and banding (-460 cm-1) vibrations. Investigated samples have been classified into two groups based on the mineralogical composition, cross sections and firing temperature. Larger group consists of samples of fine-grained, homogeneous ceramics with firing temperatures bellow 800 °C which indicates imported products. Second, smaller group consists of inhomogeneous ceramics with firing temperatures between 850 and 900 °C produced in the domestic workshops. The obtained results will be used to build up a national database for the compositions of bodies, glazes and pigments

Analysis of lead-based archaeological pottery glazes by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in the analysis of pottery shards, which are commonly the most abundant artefacts recovered at archaeological sites. The analytical capability of LIBS in identification of elements characteristic to inorganic pigments used for decoration was assessed. Based on the specific elements detected in the LIBS spectra of glazes, correlations between the elemental composition of the glaze and the colours of the glazed surface were established. The results were in accordance with the previously reported Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Raman analyses of some of the samples, and with the presently performed XRF analysis. Two important parameters for plasma characterization, temperature and electron number density, were estimated from the spectral data. A potential use of LIBS for depth profiling was also investigated by analysing the silicon to aluminium intensity ratio as a function of the number of laser shots applied. Profilometry analysis of the damages created on the glazed surfaces by laser shots was used to estimate the average ablation depth and ablated mass

Temperature-programmed desorption of n-hexane from hydrated HZSM-5 and NH(4)ZSM-5 zeolites

Temperature-programmed desorption coupled with mass spectrometer as a detector (TPD), IR and C-13 NMR measurements are used to study the adsorption of n-hexane on hydrated HZSM-5 and NH(4)ZSM-5 zeolites. The C-13 NMR measurements show that n-hexane can access the pore structure of ZSM-5 zeolites previously saturated with water. TPD spectra of n-hexane are monitored in the temperature region 50-300 degrees C, in the case of fully or partially hydrated samples; two-stage desorption of n-hexane is found. Simultaneous desorption of water and n-hexane in the same temperature region are found, in all investigated samples