41936
Accession Number
32797
Author
Chen, Geng-ling;Han, Jian-qing
Title Of Article Chaper
Analysis and restoration of pigments from Han Dynasty painted wooden horses at Mozuizi, Wuwei, Gansu province
Title Of Journal Book
Sciences of Conservation and Archaeology
Volume
23
Issue
1
Pages
40-46
Collation
7 p. : ills.
Reference Bibliography
Includes bibliographic references
ISSN
1005-1538
Language Of Text
Chinese
Language Of Summary
Chinese;English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
A number of Han Dynasty painted wooden horses have been found at the Mozuizi archaeology site. These wooden horses have big bodies, typical of the Hexi horse of ancient China. Because of the characteristics of the material, these wooden horses became water-saturated and rotten, and require immediate conservation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the paint pigments on the wood horses. The results show that the black pigment is Chinese ink (C), the white pigment is gypsum (CaSO4 [middle dot] 2H2O), and the red pigments are cinnabar (HgS) and red lead (Pb3O4). Han Dynasty coffin wood was used to restore the missing parts, using traditional construction techniques. Colorless and transparent polymethyl methacrylate (MMA) was used to make a base to support the horse’s body. PB72 was used to reinforce the surface of badly decayed wood and its paint layers. Polyvinyl acetate ([Ch2CH]nOCOH3) was used to reattach the broken parts. A technique involving adding wedges and drilling holes was introduced to reattach the parts. Finally, the painted wooden horses were well preserved by adding supportive bases. The restoration results are very good.
Keywords
paint;wooden;wood;horse;rotten;coffin;restoration;repair
pub_id
41936