2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Scientific Study on Historical Polychrome Objects
| Project/Area Number |
11694014
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Cultural property science
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| Research Institution | Independent Administrative Institution, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo (2001)
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo (1999-2000) |
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Principal Investigator |
WATANABE Akiyoshi National Reseach Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Department of Conservation Science, Director General, 所長 (00249913)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
TSUDA Tetsuei National Reseach Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Department of Fine Art, Researcher, 美術部, 研究員 (00321555)
HAYAKAWA Yasuhiro National Reseach Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Department of Conservation Science, Sonior Researcher, 保存科学部, 主任研究官 (20290869)
MIURA Sadatoshi National Reseach Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Department of Conservation Science, Director, 保存科学部, 部長 (50099925)
ASANUMA Tsuyoshi Kyoto National Museum, Senior Researcher, 学芸課, 主任研究官 (10249914)
NAKAMURA Yasushi Kyoto National Museum, Curatorial Division, Cultural Properties Administrator, 学芸課, 文化財管理官 (30249916)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1999 – 2001
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| Keywords | painting / sculpture / polychromy / conservation / pigment / analysis / Germany |
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| Research Abstract |
Materials and techniques for historical polychromy were studied with the collaboration of scientists, art historians and restorers in Japan and Germany. For the study we visited mutually sites and laboratories in each country every year. While mediaeval polychrome sculptures were mainly examined in Germany, all kinds of polychrome objects including paintings, sculptures and buildings were studied in Japan because the polychromy may be done with almost the same technique and materials for Japanese objects. Since it was usually difficult to get a permission of taking a sample from objects in Japan, we did not adopt an analysis by using a cross section We developed a new non-destructive analyzer : a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). Many polychrome objects were examined with this portable XRF and many interesting results were obtained. One of the examples was the analysis of pigments used in the scroll paintings of the tale of Genji, a very famous national treasure. The portable XRF was brought to the museum to avoid various risks by moving the scroll. The analysis revealed 4 kinds of white pigments were used in the painting. The first one contained mainly Pb, the second one Ca and the third one Hg which did not have ever been found. No heavy elements were detected from the forth one. These results arose an interesting discussion to art historians.cross section.
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