Study and conservation of museum objects: Use of classical analytical techniques

Diagnostics in Arts and Culture

“…After analysis, the unchanged sample should preferably be available for further investigation. According to Lahanier et al [5], the ideal procedure for analysing art, historical or archaeological objects ''should be non-destructive (respecting the physical integrity of the object), but also fast (to analyse large numbers of similar objects or to investigate a single object at various locations), universal (to analyse many materials and objects of various shapes and dimensions), versatile (allowing to obtain average compositional information but also permitting local analysis of small areas), sensitive (so that object grouping and other types of provenance analysis can be done not only by means of major elements but also by means of trace element fingerprints) and multi-elemental (to obtain simultaneously information on many elements in a single measurement)''. However, in some cases, sampling may be a basic requirement for a successful analysis.…”

Trace Element Analysis of The Otani Collection's Dunhuang and Turfan Manuscripts by PIXE

“…The concentrations of bromine in Japanese paper by NAA were reported by HMabuchi 7 *, and the elemental concentrations in archaeological and historical materials were collected by Ch.Lahanier et a/. 9) . These reports, however, show no suggestion on origin of bromine in paper.…”

Use of Monte Carlo Simulation as a Tool for the Nondestructive Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) Spectroscopy Analysis of Archaeological Copper-Based Artifacts from the Chalcolithic Site of Perdigões, Southern Portugal

“…Although several analytical techniques are available for this purpose, when choosing the most appropriate procedure one should give priority to a technique that is: (a) nondestructive, so that the physical integrity of the object is ensured, avoiding any kind of damage to the artifacts; (b) fast, so that a large amount of material could be analyzed in the shortest possible time; (c) universal, so that the technique could be applicable to materials with different shapes and dimensions; (d) versatile, so that the same technique could be applied at different analytical scales and obtain information from the average composition of heterogeneous materials up to data on microscopic areas; (e) sensitive, and (f) multi-elemental, so that the maximum of information could be simultaneously extrapolated for major, minor, and trace elements. 7 Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is a well-established elemental technique that meets these requirements, as demonstrated by previously reported studies for both major and minor elemental compounds in several archaeological artifacts, such as ceramic, metal, glass and obsidian. [8][9] Since no prior preparation is required for the sample to be analyzed, ED-XRF is generally considered as a nondestructive technique.…”