Multianalytical characterization of pigments from funerary artefacts belongs to the Chupicuaro Culture (Western Mexico): Oldest Maya blue and cinnabar identified in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica

Ágredos-Pascual, María Luisa Vázquez de; Roldán, C.; Murcia‐Mascarós, Sonia; Barber, D. J.; Sánchez, María Gertrudis Jaén; Faugère, Brigitte; Darras, Véronique

doi:10.1016/j.microc.2019.104101

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…300 BC -300 AD). It is presumable that its use was known within northern populations (Vázquez de Ágredos-Pascual et al 2018). However, no reference on the use of malachite or azurite by Tarahumaras Indians has been found (González Rodríguez 1972;Pennington 1963).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)

Muñoz-Alcócer

Fuster-López

Pascual

et al. 2019

STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research

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An interdisciplinary and multi-institutional group of science and art conservation specialists has provided new insight into the painting materials used in the polychrome walls and wooden ceilings in four seventeenth century Spanish colonial churches of Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico). A multi-analytical study of the decorative surfaces was performed in situ using spectroscopic approaches (XRF, FORS), False Colour Infrared Reflectography-IRFC, as well as micro sampling for ATR-FTIR, LM and GC/MS laboratory analyses. A survey of natural resources were also studied by ATR-FTIR and LM to elucidate the natural occurrence of a select number of materials found in the surrounding areas of the churches. The present paper presents a multi-analytical study and characterization of green, red-orange and black colour pigments and binders selected from the decorative surfaces. The aim of this study is to highlight relationships between local materials and those from the original polychrome ceilings, in order to understand the material and technological influences that converged in the Spanish colonial architecture of northern Mexico.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)

Muñoz-Alcócer

Fuster-López

Pascual

et al. 2019

STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research

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“…Indigo was rarely applied in most of ancient Chinese architectural paintings, where mineral pigments such as azurite and ultramarine were more frequently used [25]. It is commonly found in excavated silk weavings in China, e.g., indigo-dyed silks were excavated from the Mawangdui Han tomb of the Western Han Dynasty, from about 2200 years ago [46], and is found on other types of objects in other countries, e.g., funerary objects from the Chupicuaro culture [47] and the pre-classic and classic monumental architecture of the ancient pre-Columbian city of Calakmul [48].…”

Section: Bluementioning

confidence: 99%

Spectroscopic Investigation of a Color Painting on an Ancient Wooden Architecture from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Prince Dai’s Mansion in Jiangsu, China

et al. 2023

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This research sheds light on the analysis of pigments and adhesives applied on a color painting on wooden architecture in Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Prince Dai’s mansion, located in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province in China. Four samples were collected from the painting above the building beam in the mansion, and the samples were analyzed and identified using a series of techniques, including polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy (m-RS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that the red, black, blue, and green pigments were identified to be cinnabar, ivory black, indigo, and phthalocyanine green, respectively. The green pigment was inferred to be a lately repainted pigment based on its production age, suggesting that this ancient building had been refurbished or repaired. Given the good stability and visual effect of this green pigment, it is suggested to be used in future conservation processes. The pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass Spectrometry (Py-Gc/Ms) results indicate that glue containing protein was used as a binder for the pigment samples, and that walnut oil might have been applied to the wooden architecture as a primer before painting. Our findings can well inform curators and conservators of the selection of appropriate restoration materials if necessary, and also provide data support for conservation of similar ancient buildings in southern China.

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“…between 300 and 1000 AD, up to the Spanish conquest in sixteenth century. Later studies, however (Vázquez de Ágredos Pascual et al 2011) dated back the first use to the Pre-Classic period (around 150 AD) and recently (Vázquez de Ágredos-Pascual et al 2019), it has been hypothesised a further backdating to at least 250 BC and the evidence that the technology of production could have been developed by another Pre-Hispanic culture of Western Mexico, the Chupicuaro.…”

Section: Maya Bluementioning

confidence: 99%

Pigments—the palette of organic colourants in wall paintings

Aceto

2021

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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The present contribution deals with the use of organic colourants in wall paintings, polychrome pottery and painted stone artworks, i.e. painted artworks on inorganic supports. The term organic colourants is referred to the chemical nature of these compounds but not to the way of application; therefore, organic colourants can be dyes, lakes or pigments. The use of organic colourants in wall paintings has been given little attention in the past, perhaps on the assumption that they were rarely used by ancient artists. Recent diagnostic studies, however, brought evidence that their use was not fragmentary; on the contrary, there seems to be continuity in the centuries, at least with regard to the most widely used such as madder, Tyrian purple and indigo. Sources, alteration phenomena, identification methods and analytical evidence is given for the main organic colourants with concern to red, yellow, green, purple and blue hues. Drawbacks and issues are discussed with concern to the identification techniques.

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Multianalytical characterization of pigments from funerary artefacts belongs to the Chupicuaro Culture (Western Mexico): Oldest Maya blue and cinnabar identified in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica

Cited by 7 publications

References 32 publications

Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)

Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)

Spectroscopic Investigation of a Color Painting on an Ancient Wooden Architecture from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Prince Dai’s Mansion in Jiangsu, China

Pigments—the palette of organic colourants in wall paintings

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