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X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy analysis were performed to examine a 17th century painted silk banner in order to characterize the pigments and materials used. This complementary approach yields information on the elemental (XRF) and on the molecular composition (Raman) of the used compounds. The paint layer, ground layer under gilding, and gilding layer were investigated. For the studied object, vermilion (HgS), lead white (2PbCO 3 · Pb(OH) 2 ), red lead (Pb 3 O 4 ), and aurichalcite ((Cu,Zn) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6 ) were found. The presence of silver and gold foils was confirmed. The techniques used in the analysis were portable, non-destructive, and non-invasive, which is very desirable when analyzing cultural heritage objects. The obtained results were used by the conservators to develop a showcase prototype for safe exhibition.

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Eleven wool and silk historic textiles and two modern artist's canvases were examined to determine their water vapour adsorption, moisture dimensional response and tensile behaviour. All the textiles showed a similar general pattern of moisture response. A rise in ambient relative humidity (RH) from dry conditions produced expansion of a textile until a certain critical RH level after which a contraction occurred to a greater or lesser degree depending on the yarn crimp and the weave geometry. The largest expansion recorded between the dry state and 80% RH was 1.2 and 0.9% for wool and silk textiles, respectively. The largest shrinkage of 0.8% at high RH range was experienced by a modern linen canvas. Two potential damage mechanisms related to the moisture response of the textiles-stress building as a result of shrinkage of the textile restrained in its dimensional response and the fretting fatigue when yarns move with friction one against another-were found insignificant in typical textile display environments unless the textiles are severely degraded or excessively strained in their mounting.

The chemical identification of materials is the first step for developing and implementing recommendations for the care and display of resin cast and plastic objects in museum collections. This paper presents advantages as well as limitations of portable Raman. Therefore, a comparative analysis of portable and benchtop Raman instruments was performed in the study of materials found in the contemporary art collections of the National Museum in Krakow.The results of the Raman study were complemented with those obtained using Fourier transform infrared, near infra-red, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, in order to verify their accuracy. The results of this study showed that portable Raman spectroscopy is a suitable technique for the identification plastics in museum collections.

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