• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.345-351
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• 2014

Chemical and Pb isotope analysis were performed in order to determine the origin of bronze artefacts excavated from the Inyongsaji site in South Korea. The result of ICP-MS shows that they are tin bronzes in which lead was not intentionally added during production. Pb isotope data analyzed by TIMS are plotted in the southern region of Korea and China of the distribution map drawn by Mabuchi(1985). On the other hand, the identical isotope data are plotted in the Taebaek basin and the Olcheon metamorphic belt correspondent to zone2 and zone3 respectively. It is believed that the isotope data on the tin bronzes which have very low lead content can be used to trace the origin of copper ore rather than those of either lead or tin ore. Pb istope analysis allows diverse interpretation as it can be applied to any object containing trace amounts of lead. In addition, accumulation of isotope data as well as further studies will improve reliability of the provenance studies.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.179-182
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• 2006

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.85-89
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• 2002

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.355-366
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• 2013

Diverse scientific analyses, including microstructure, ICP-AES, SEM-EDS, and P-XRF(Bench Top type and Gun type), were carried out on 6 bronze artefacts which handed from generation to generation. Also, we attempted to study applicability for authenticity of the bronze artefacts using scientific analyses based on the specific element. The results of ICP-AES analysis showed that the bronze were formed from an alloy of Cu, Sn, Pb with trace elements such as Ag, As, Co, Fe, but there were not Zn found. The result of P-XRF are 10~25% lower in Cu and 10~20% higher in Sn than that of ICP-AES. This is because of destannification that the compound of $SnO_2$ are present on the surface. The results of SEM-EDS represented that there is lead segregation. It was difficult to study applicability for authenticity of bronze artefact according to the microstructures and chemical components of the bronze artefacts. Therefore, as bronze artefacts have shown different corrosion materials depending on the buried environment and conserving environment, identifying the authenticity would be possible on the basis of the additional researches on the corrosion and comparative research of ancient art.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.508-517
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• 2019

This study analyzed on alloys and by-product samples produced through the reproduction experiment of bronze mirror with geometric designs. The alloy ratio used in the first and second reproduction experiments was based on the analysis results of bronze mirror with geometric designs(Cu 61.68%, Sn 32.25%, Pb 5.46%) which is the national treasure No. 141. As a result of portable X-ray fluorescence analysis on the raw materials used in the reproduction experiment, the contents of copper raw materials were 98.85 wt% for Cu, tin raw materials were 99.03 wt% for Sn, and lead raw materials were 70.19 wt% for Pb, and 21.81 wt% for Sn. Sn and Pb were added 5 wt% more considering the evaporation amount of tin and lead during alloy melting. The result produced by the first reproduction experiment were 58.75 wt% for Cu, 36.87 wt% for Sn, 4.39 wt% for Pb, and the other result produced by the second reproduction experiment were 58.66 wt% for Cu, 35.89 wt% for Sn, and 5.50 wt% for Pb. The composition of the components was about 3.00 wt% in Cu and Sn respectively, and the microstructure was similar to the previous studies because the δ phase was observed mainly. The results of this study will be used as basic data for the materialistic characteristics of ancient bronze mirror in the future.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.28
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• pp.89-108
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• 2022

Among about 500,000 characters in metal types in National Museum of Korea, this study conducts a statistical analysis of 62 metal types from the early Joseon Dynasty, including 33 gabinja (甲寅字) types and 29 eulhaeja (乙亥字) Hangeul types by examining the shape, measuring the specific gravity, and identifying the components based on previously-studied Joseon metal types. Among them, 33 gabinja types and 24 eulhaeja types were made of two-component bronze (copper and tin) (Group A), and four eulhaeja types were produced with three-component bronze (copper, tin and lead). (Group B), and one eulhaeja type was created with two-component bronze (copper and tin) with a high tin content (Group C). By comparing with imjinja (壬辰字) types of the late Joseon Dynasty based on multiple statistical analyses of type components, this study confirms that late-Joseon types have low copper content and high zinc and lead content, and therefore it may be possible to distinguish between the types of early and late Joseon Dynasty.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2019

The extensive archaeological remains at the Baekje Kingdom site of Wanggung-ri, Iksan, in the South Jeolla Province, Korea, include a seventh century workshop area that was later covered by the construction of a Buddhist temple. Remains of glass, gold, and bronze artefacts, and the ceramic crucibles used in the working of these materials, provide evidence for a multi-craft, high-temperature technology. We will report the results of both chemical compositional and lead isotope analyses for Wanggung-ri glass, which is among the earliest lead-silica glass type in East Asia, as well as review the evidence for primary glass production at Wanggung-ri.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.23
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• pp.1-16
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• 2020

In this paper, Gilt-bronze Standing Avaolkiteshvara (National Treasure No. 293, M355) excavated at Gyuam-ri in Buyeo was observed with a microscope to identify the production technique applied to it. It was also analyzed with XRF and hard X-ray to identify the composition and the surface treatment techniques and casting method applied. In this statue, Avalokiteshvara is standing upright on a lotus pedestal. The lotus designs on the pedestal and those on the shawl flowing down on both sides of the statue are characteristic of Buddhist statues from the seventh century or later. The use of supports to affix the outer and inner molds and traces of injected cast were observed in the interior of the pedestal. The blisters on the arms and pedestal created during the bronze casting indicate the use of lost-wax casting, which was popularly employed for the production of mid- or small-sized gilt-bronze Buddhist statues in ancient times. The composition analysis identified a copper-tin-lead ternary alloy in the interior of the statue that was conventional used in the sixth and seventh centuries. It is likely that this simple alloy was used to facilitate casting and produce clearer expressions of designs and ornaments on the statue. Mercury (Hg) was detected on the surface of the statue, indicating the use of amalgam-plating with gold (Au) dissolved in mercury. This plating method is a common surface treatment technique used for small gilt-bronze statutes in ancient Korea.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.15
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• pp.4-25
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• 2014

Chuncheon National Museum currently own a bronze Buddhist gong that was discovered in 1987 at the Sudasa Temple site of in Suhangri, Pyeongchang. Significantly, showing many casting defects and areas where was repaired, the Gong offered crucial information about the casting technique. To better understand the production technique, scientific analysis was conducted on various aspects of the gong, including its materials, moulds, chaplets, and defects. Composition analysis revealed that the gong was composed primarily of copper ^71.6wt%, tin ^18.2wt%, and lead ^7.2wt%, along with about 1wt% of both arsenic and antimony. The lead content of the chaplets was higher than that of the gong, and the lead content was the highest in the solder, which was used to fill holes after casting. Surface analysis, based on the parting line, indicated that the gong was most likely produced with the sand casting process. Radiography and close examination of the surface disclosed various casting defects ^{e.g., Cold Shut, Surface Folds, Misrun, and Blowholes Adjacent to Chaplets} and their possible causes. The casting defects of a few holes were filled with soft solder.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.131-134
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• 2006