The Nondestructive Analysis of the Pigments on the Korean 12-fold scheen, Haehakbando-do

해학반도도 채색안료에 대한 비파괴 특성 분석

A large variety of mineral pigments has been used for Korean paintings and it has known that organic pigments have been used together on the Buddhist painting and the portrait. Haehakbando-do, which is from Honolulu Academy Museum in the United States, 12-fold screen was commissioned by Court of the late Joseon Dynasty in order to pray for the King's longevity. Therefore, it seems that all material used including pigments were selected very carefully and a great deal of technical effort was gone into its process. The purposes of this research were to estimate the pigments and the contributory elements of each color used on Haehakbando-do, in accordance with the conservation treatment carried out by Gochang Conservation Institute throughout last year. Without extracting sample, property of pigment was measured by nondestructive method, X-ray spectral analysis, and by comparing with the data about ancient pigments. In spite of the limited range of pigment analysis by nondestructive method, it should be noted that this method would not cause damage to the cultural properites. White pigment was found in all colored parts except the background, so it can be suggested that white color was used as a grounding of other color pigments. This would be flake white[$2PbCO_3{\cdot}Pb(OH)_2$] as Pb was found. Pb was the only element could be found in yellow, however, it can be organic pigment like Gamboge as same as background. Red would be Cinnabar (HgS) as hydrargyrum (Hg) was detected. For the light purple in cloud, organic pigments were probably used since any element is not detected except for Pb, which is used for background. It is possible that green color is the mixture of Malachite[$CuCO_3{\cdot}Cu(OH)_2$] and Azurite [$2CuCO_3{\cdot}Cu(OH)_2$], which share Cu as their main element. Azurite[$2CuCO_3{\cdot}Cu(OH)_2$] was used for bluish pigments. Black is carbon compound. For gold, solid gold (Au) was detected. It shows that gold was gilded on the flake white background. Red painted on the frame of screen was identified as Cinnabar (HgS) and the gold pattern was solid gold (Au). The supporting leg of folding screen was made of brass because both copper and zinc were detected. In conclusion, white pigment was used as grounding of all colors of Haehakbando-do, and specific pigments were used for each color. Additionally, result from the analysis of several pigments shows that mineral pigment and organic pigment, or different mineral pigments were mixed to make various colors.