Material Analysis and Conservation Treatment for Mother‐of‐Pearl Floor Mirror at Daejojeon Hall of Changdeokgung Palace, Korea

Abstract

In this study, a scientific survey on the material of the mother-of-pearl floor mirror was conducted and conservation treatment processes were introduced. The survey results showed that the mother-of-pearl floor mirror in Daejojeon Hall of Changdeokgung is made of Dalbergia spp., and repair work seems to be done later with shorea spp. FT-IR analysis results showed that the varnishing is similar to the spectrum of lacquer. The metal wheels and metal line decorations set with mother-of-pearl were found to be made of brass based on XRF analysis, and the ingredient ratio showed that these were made in modern times. Foreign materials were stuck on the surface of the mother-of-pearl floor mirror before conservation treatment, which was in a structurally unstable condition owing to some missing submaterials. Conservation treatment was conducted on the damaged area to restore the mirror to its original appearance by using the same species of wood determined from the data obtained through the scientific survey.