• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.11
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• pp.17-30
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• 2010

Here is an introduction of the conservation process and storing method of 26 garments for exhibition among the excavated garments of Cheonngyeongunju(a princess) preserved in the National Museum of Korea. Before processing, the artifacts were investigated to find out the type of material and the damaged parts, and then surface and wet cleaning were conducted. After that, it were dried and fixed while held by hand for stability of the artifacts. When stored, the artifact was folded minimally in large parts to prevent damage and placed in a neutral box with buffers in between.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.18
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• pp.35-50
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• 2017

As part of the NMK's research project on wooden Buddha statues, four items which contained fabric among their bokjang objects(腹藏物) were investigated. Firstly, when classified by the method of weaving, two items made of ra (羅, a four-end complex gauze) silk and five of neung(綾, twill damask) silk from the Goryeo era were identified, and the satin fabrics showing characteristics of the Joseon period were classified as either dan(緞, satin damask) or sa(紗, simple gauze). In particular, the fabric of the bokjang objects enshrined within the gilt-bronze Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva(Deoksu 801) feature both early and late Joseon characteristics, suggesting that two enshrinements were performed(once in the fifteenth century and another in the seventeenth). Secondly, the patterns on the fabrics included flowers, treasures, fruits, plants with animals, and landscapes with clouds. Thirdly, patches of fabric were found that are assumed to be related with all cardinal directions according to their arrangement, albeit in small quantities.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.66-83
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• 2018

This article focuses how the materials of hatstrings of the 19th to 20th century gat, the Korean top hat for men among the collections of National Folk Museum of Korea, was transformed after port opening treaties with overseas since 1876. As a result of analyzing the materials of the hatstrings, amber, tortoiseshell, wood and bamboo as the traditional materials were used, and ivory, glass (soda glass, lead glass, alkali mixed glass) and plastics (cellulose nitrate, phenol-formaldehyde, polystyrene, acryl) were newly used for the hatstrings. Bamboo, wood and amber were the most frequently used materials. Bamboo was mainly used for the pipe of hatstring and were combined with beads and central decorations of other materials. This shows the trend of bamboo hatstring according to the simplification of the clothing and the culture by Regent Heungseon Daewongun. Ambers were used in the central decorations and beads and the origin of ambers was baltic amber just like the amber relics found in Korea. Compositions of glass were soda glass and alkali mixed glass which were excavated or handed down in Korea from ancient times to Joseon dynasty. But in the case of lead glass, Na2O was detected and it is considered to be a new type lead glass for crafts which came from overseas after port opening since 1876 because it showed the characteristic that it deviates from the lead glass component found in Korea. Plastics such as cellulose nitrate and phenol-formaldehyde were used as new synthetic materials to replace traditional materials such as tortoiseshell, amber, and coral as in the West. Cracks, crazing, crumbly and yellowing of cellulose nitrate of hatstrings were observed by deterioration. The survey of the materials of the 19th to 20th century hatstrings among the collections of National Folk Museum of Korea showed that the introduction of new materials such as glass and plastics were used to replace natural materials such as tortoiseshell and amber along with the use of traditional materials after port opening since 1876.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.9
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• pp.105-116
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• 2008

The Conservation Science Team of National Museum of Korea has established the data base of lead isotope ratio as the scientific research of bronze patina, which was acquired from conservtion process of metal objects, and based on this result, it intends to conduct the research related to the origin of raw material for the bronze objects. As the equipment for analysis of lead isotope ratio of the bronze patina, the thermal ionization mass spectrometer(TIMS) was used. As a part of this study, in 2nd year 2008, lead isotope ratios of total 18 samples inclding 2 samples of Round-type gold-bronze belong to Baekje period, the 2 items of head of bronze arrow belong to Nangnang(Lelang) and 10 items of the flower-shaped bronze dishes from the Unified Silla period, the 4 items of the bronze patina from the objects(era of 1 item not identified) of Wonpungtongbo(year 1078-North Sung) were analyzed.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.28
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• pp.35-50
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• 2022

This study explores the results of the research and conservation treatment conducted on two-peony paintings in the collection of the National Museum of Korea. The Jang-ji(障子) resembles a folding screen, but differs in size, shape, and use. A thick sheet of paper was used to attach the paintings to a wall, and traces of the lattice frame and red pigments, which was mainly used for building structures, remain on the back of the paper. It is confirmed that the paper was used as Jang-ji(障子) attached to adorn the walls or doors of a building and specifically decorated the interior of Seonwonjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was removed in 1867. The paper also indicates that the mounting was made in the 19^th-century Joseon Dynasty, as the peony painting was finished in a different color from Jang-ji(障子) used for the Seonwonjeon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace. Based on the analysis of pigments and literature research, this study attempts to take a new approach to the colored pigments used in royal peony paintings, and it is believed that the conservation treatment used in this study highlights the necessity of continuous research on wallpaper as reference materials for royal paintings of the Joseon Dynasty.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.13
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• pp.13-22
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• 2012

The patterns for Jeogui and Pyeseul (patterns of the queen's ceremonial robe worn and a belt ornament covering knees in the front) as owned by National Museum of Korea were made in the early 20th century and both of them were colored on paper. Through a non-destructive analysis on pigments and dyes used on both the patterns, it was attempted to identify the coloring materials. As for the analysis of the coloring pigments, the XRF was used. As a result of the pigment analysis on the pattern for Jeogui, it is presumed that lead white was used for obtaining the white color, ink stick for black color, orpiment for yellow color, cinnabar and red lead for red color, copper and arsenical or a mixture of copper carbonate and orpiment for green color whereas brass seems to have been used for obtaining other colors. The pigments used for obtaining the colors of white, black, yellow and green on the pattern for Pyeseul are the same as those used on the pattern for Jeogui whereas the red pigments used on each of the two patterns are seen to be different. Although it may be difficult to identify the kinds of blue pigments that were used on the patterns for Jeogui and Pyeseul, a mixture containing lead white is presumed to be used as blue pigment. Also, as a result of the UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis performed on the blue hanji (traditional Korean paper) of the pattern for Jeogui, it was presumed to have been dyed with indigo.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.23
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• pp.49-60
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• 2020

The wrapping cloth with Cloud and Treasures Pattern donated by the head house of the descendants of Lee Hangbok (1556-1618) at the National Museum of Korea underwent conservation treatment for its protection and display. It was then compared with other ancient fabric objects for dating and analysis of the design. The subjects of Cloud and Treasures Patterns of clothing excavated from tombs dated to some point between the birth and death of Lee Hangbok and with Cloud and Treasures Patterns on the covers of Uigwe copies from the same period from the late 16th and 18th centuries were compared. The results of comparison with relics with clear dating are as follows: First, The Cloud and Treasures Patterns on the late 16th and 17th centuries the differences in the proportion between the head and the tail of the cloud among. Second, the Cloud and Treasures Patterns on the covers of Uigwe copies and fabrics excavated from tombs dated no later than the early 1700s share similarities with the Cloud and Treasures Pattern on the donated wrapping cloth in terms of the arrangement and size of designs and the proportion between each portion of the design. Though the study failed to identify the exact use of the wrapping cloth, it was estimated to be produced in early 18th century when the portraits of Lee Hangbok were copied.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.21
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• pp.17-28
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• 2019

The term jinjuseon(眞珠扇), meaning literally a pearl fan, refers to a fan decorated with precious stones for use in royal wedding ceremonies. This study examined a jinjuseon housed in the National Palace Museum of Korea (NPMK) which currently lacks jeweled ornaments. In order to determine whether pearls or other gemstone settings originally ornamented the fan,the surface and composition of the gray materials remaining on the washers were investigated and the fan was compared with other artifacts decorated using similar techniques. The analysis revealed that the gray materials visible around the round rims of the washers contain tin-lead alloys. The traces of folded nails suggest that soldering was not applied. The remains of the infill observed in other artifacts with bezel settings indicate that this jinjuseon in the NPMK collection was produced using abezel setting technique wherein pearls or other gemstones were affixed by filling cylindrical bezels with tin-lead alloys.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.11
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• pp.31-42
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• 2010

Here is an introduction of the conservation and making process of Seodae(Rank Belt with A Rhinoceros' Horn) of the Chuncheon National Museum. The seodae has a structure composed of wrapping fabric around a leather frame and decorated with ttidon(an ornament) made of a rhinoceros' horn and a metal frame. The adhesion between leather was weak and separation was taking place, parts of the horn were missing and the fabric was discoloring. Also the metal frame and the metal wire attaching ttidon were severly corroded. Nondestructive analysis was carried out by using a portable x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to analyze the components of the metal parts. Conservation was carried out by dismantling parts and carrying out conservation process of each one according to material, then the parts were put back together.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.28
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• pp.1-16
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• 2022

Treatment was performed to conserve the Underwood Typewriter (Hangi 6863) from the collection of the National Hangeul Museum. Since the typewriter was presumably manufactured in the modern or contemporary era and bore patterns of damage such as component loss, corrosion, and paint loss, as well as being made of multiple materials, a condition survey and a scientific analysis were conducted ahead of the conservation treatment in order to carry out appropriate treatments for each material. The analysis confirmed that the typewriter was made of various materials including metal, paint, and rubber, and the conservation treatment was performed in the sequence of removal of contamination, reinforcement, and restoration under conditions where each material was stable. Conservation treatment was completed in a stable state by strengthening the layer of damaged paint and restoring the lost leg. These processes have enabled a better understanding of the materials and characteristics of typewriters manufactured in the early modern era, which is expected to provide basic data for typewriter conservation research to be conducted in the future.