• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.25
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• pp.27-34
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• 2021

A Goryeo-era mother-of-pearl-inlaid incense box in the collection of the National Museum of Korea, a major example of Goryeo dynasty cultural heritage, presents a comprehensive view of the production techniques and aesthetic expressions of its time. This study investigated the type of wood and the techniques used to make the framework of the box, knowledge that was necessary for its restoration. It also examined anatomical characteristics of the shell providing the mother-of-pearl. The incense box was found to be made of cedar, which suggests that there was trade in cedar with Japan. A band was attached to the lower portion of the lid by applying what the author describes as a "wrinkle-bending" technique at the corners. Wooden pegs were used to combine the top and side panels, probably for more efficient use of the thin wooden boards. The investigation of the anatomical features of the mother-of-pearl inlay identified a laminated structure of thin plates. These features are observed in certain shellfish, and further study would be required to accurately identify the type of shell.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2015

Animal glue is a traditional material that was used widely as an adhesive in cultural artifacts, such as Buddhist paintings, dancheong (traditional multicolored paintwork on wooden buildings), mother-of-pearl inlay, and so on. Spectroscopic methods, such as infrared spectroscopy, have been used for the analysis of animal glue. However, such methods do not yield sufficient information about the constituents of the glue. Because pyrolysis/GC/MS analysis is able to estimate the components of a material through the examination of its pyrolyzed products, it is useful for the analysis of polymeric material. In this study, pyrolysis/GC/MS analysis was used to determine the chemical composition of animal glue. The appropriate conditions for analyzing animal glue were established by examining pyrolysis temperature, quantity of the sample, and the repeatability of the method. Some products of pyrolysis were identified. We also analyzed commercial gelatin and animal glue using the established method and found almost no differences in chromatograms among the samples. The results will be used as supporting data to confirm the use of animal glue in cultural artifacts and to replace traditional animal glue by commercial gelatin.