Conservation of the Bronze Incense Burner Inlaid with Gold and Silver

동제금은입사향로(銅製金銀入絲香爐)의 보존처리(保存處理)

The copper incense burner inlaid with gold and silver and purchased by the National Museum of Korea in 2002 was to be corroded severely throughout the surface. It was difficult to recognize the part with silver inlaying. Using the abrasive method with alumina, however, its splendid inlaying patterns were restored. Prior to applying the abrasive method, the quality was examined, and a material that could help bring out the patterns without causing too much damage to the artifact, selected. The overall condition of the incense burner was also checked through X-ray equipment to know the condition of the gold and silver inlaying, and by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to confirm the composition of the incense burner and gold and silver inlaying. The result of this process is expected to serve as valuable data in future research on incense burners inlaid with gold and silver.

국립중앙박물관에서 2002년도에 구입한 동제금은입사향로는 전체적으로 표면의 부식이 심하여 은상감된 부분의 식별이 어려운 상태였으나, 알루미나를 이용한 Abrasive method로 상감된 화려한 문양들을 표출해 주었다. Abrasive method를 적용하기에 앞서 대상물질에 대한 조사를 실시하였고 유물에 손상이 적고 표면을 균일하게 표출할 수 있는 물질을 적용하였다. 또한 X-선 조사를 통하여 전체적인 향로의 상태를 점검하였고, 비파괴X-선형광분석을 실시하여 금·은입사 등의 성분조성을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 향후 우리나라 금은입사향로를 연구하는데 귀중한 자료가 될 것이다.