A multi-analytical approach for the characterization of red dyestuffs used in ancient tapestries: construction of a reference database

Paola Fermo, Valeria Comite, Vittoria Guglielmi, Marco Schiavoni,Elisabetta Boanini, Elisa Monfasani, Roberto Bonomi, Valerio Pasini
Abstract:
The study here presented concerns the characterization, withchromatographic (high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) andspectroscopic (Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy)techniques, of red dyestuffs used to dye the yarns of ancienttapestries. Following the ancient recipes the yarns (wool andsilk) have been dyed using natural red dyes such as madder, kermesand cochineal. By SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscopy coupledwith energy dispersive X-ray analysis) the yarns morphology hasbeen investigated and the presence of the metals responsible forthe specific mordants employed has been highlighted. The samplesthus obtained have been studied in order to build a referencedatabase that can be used later for the identification of the dyes used by the ancient tapestry manufacturers. Attention has been also paid to develop a non-destructive approach to be applied in-situ for the analysis of the ancient tapestries.
Download:
IMEKO-TC4-METROARCHAEO-2019-112.pdf
DOI:
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Event details
IMEKO TC:
TC4
Event name:
TC4 MetroArchaeo 2019
Title:

IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Place:
Florence, ITALY
Time:
04 December 2019 - 06 December 2019