"De Colorando Auro" medieval colour surface treatment of silver gilded statuettes decorating the Holy Lady Shrine of Huy (13th century, Belgium)

Amandine C. Crabbé*, Andrea Ceglia, J.M. Cerezo Palacios, Helena J M Wouters, Cristian Mocuta, Herman Terryn, Isabelle Vandendael

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    In previous papers, we showed that it is possible to modify the colour of gilding on the silver substrate by applying a surface chemical treatment after it has been burnished [Crabbé et al., Surf. Interface Anal. 2008, 40, 467; Crabbé et al. Applied Physics A, 2013, 111, 39]. These types of techniques are recounted in many medieval and older manuscripts [Crabbé et al., Arch. des Biblio. de Belgique. 2011, 94, 1581]. They have to be taken into account when applying conservation-restoration cleaning to silver gilded statuettes such as the ones from the Holy Lady Shrine from Huy (13th century, Belgium) [Didier et al., Bull. de L'IRPA 1970, 12, 5]. Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and synchrotron X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) were carried out both on model and historical samples with the aim of determining if medieval colour treatment has been applied in an efficient way to the silver gilded statuettes of the shrine. Those results are of first importance to the conservator-restorer responsible for the shrine restoration treatment. They will influence the treatment applied to the shrine but also the interpretation of the art-piece, its final aspect and the art-history of medieval times.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)677-684
    JournalJAAS: Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry
    Volume30
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of '"De Colorando Auro" medieval colour surface treatment of silver gilded statuettes decorating the Holy Lady Shrine of Huy (13th century, Belgium)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this