• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.371-380
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• 2017

To investigate the pigments used in modern and contemporary oil paintings, thirty-two paintings by Jiho Oh and Bonung Gu were selected. The white pigment found in the ground and painting layers was identified as lead white (hydrocerussite), zinc white (zinc oxide), titanium white (titanium dioxide in anatase or rutile forms), calcite (calcium carbonate), and barite (barium sulfate). Further, this indicated that pigments differ according to the artist and date of the painting's creation. However, both Oh and Gu used zinc white during the modern and contemporary period, while lead white was replaced by titanium white, barite and calcite. Compared with the overseas studies on pigments and oil paints, the change patterns of pigments were the same with them but the periods of the use were partially different. It seems to be due to the fact that South Korea is linked to the historical background of the art material which was imported from Japan instead of Western countries. Therefore, it is inevitable that any change in the white pigments used for domestic oil paintings occurred at a different time from global transitions. If the results of this study are used in the analysis of art works it is suggested that a database recording such aspects as material properties of oil paints, artistic techniques, and chronology would become important for future conservation science and the study of art history.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.307-315
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• 2014

The gold textile is Korean traditional weaving technique using the gold thread since 5th century. The making technique of gold thread was written in various references, but it is severed because the gold thread weaving equipment and sumptuous moods were forbidden in the early 18th century. There are some studies of traditional gold thread which are mainly about conservation treatment of cleaning and strength. To restore traditional gold thread, investigation of material and manufacturing technique is vitally required. The gold threads are composed of gold leaf, adhesive and base sheet. Gold leaf and base sheet are available for investigation because they are exposed to the surface, whereas adhesive is not easy to investigate because it is not exposed to the surface. In this study, samples are made of pure and impure gold, animal glue and lacquer, and various types of Hanji based on domestic and foreign references to compare materials for gold threads. As a result of morphological character and stability evaluation, the optimum materials for the restoration of gold threads are pure gold, animal glue and Dochimji(smoothing paper by beating). This study is expected to be basic data for manufacturing gold threads techniques and modernization of traditional gold threads hereafter research.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.329-341
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• 2012

Magai Wareiishi Jizo (Buddhist statue carved on rock surface) is close to shoreline and a part of rock block is periodically immersed by seawater. Rock material of the Wareiishi-jizo statue is composed mainly of medium or coarse-grained biotite granite and very durable. However, physical properties of the rock have been changed according to the complex interactions of the salt solution and surrounding environment. Exfoliation of the rock surface is a serious condition by salt crystallization. Exfoliation (14.6%) is concentrated on the upper part of the rock block with mainly boundary of seawater as the center. On the other hand, lower part of the rock block show black layers by contaminants deposition. In addition, brown discoloration and biological contaminants is overlapped. Rock surface show high discoloration rate of 50.5% (black discoloration, 29.2% > yellow discoloration, 14.1% > brown discoloration, 4.4% > green discoloration, 2.9%). Upper part of the rock block had a lot of change in the physical properties than lower part that is immersed by seawater. In particular, surface properties of the rock block was very weak state at the boundary surface of seawater permeation.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.578-590
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• 2020

During the 1960-1970s, a group of ceramic conservation scientists and ceramic historians in South Korea came together and established their own disciplines. While the two disciplines share the same ceramics as the subjects of their research, there has been little interaction between the two as their research outputs are articulated in remarkably different languages. This paper aims to address the following questions by using a case study that focuses on the research on white porcelains centered on the project of Gyeonggi Museum and a series of studies conducted by one of the museum's project research teams. First, what are the characteristics of and differences between the explanation styles of the two disciplines that share the same research subjects of ceramics? Second, why has the communication between the two disciplines become difficult? Third, if there can be a trading zone wherein the two disciplines would be able to communicate again, what would be its epistemic conditions? The focus of this paper is the relationship between scientific data and ordinary language, which the two disciplines have shared from their inception. By analyzing the relationship, I first argue that, as the analytical techniques of conservation science have become more developed, conservation science's data have gradually lost its relevance in ceramic history, in spite of a shared common language between them; Second, I argue that by recovering the import of shared language again, the scientific data can be placed in a different practical context, providing novel interpretations that are relevant and often consequential to ceramic history.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.24
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• pp.55-74
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• 2020

The Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok is required digital precision recording of conservation conditions because of corrosion and partial abrasion of its patterns and inscriptions. Therefore, this study performed digital documentation of the bell using four types of scanning and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry technologies, and performed the various shape analyses through image processing. The modeling results of terrestrial laser scanning and UAV photogrammetry were merged and utilized as basic material for monitoring earthquake-induced structural deformation because these techniques can construct mutual spatial relationships between the bell and its tower. Additionally, precision scanning at a resolution four to nine times higher than that of the previous study provided highly valuable information, making it possible to visualize the patterns and inscriptions of the bell. Moreover, they are well-suited as basic data for identifying surface conservation conditions. To actively apply three-dimensional scanning results to the conservation of the original bell, the time and position of any changes in shape need to be established by further scans in the short-term. If no change in shape is detected by short-term monitoring, the monitoring should continue in medium- and long-term intervals.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.27
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• pp.39-56
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• 2022

The purpose of this project was to improve the stability of a pair of leather socks for use on snowy days in the collection of the National Museum of Korea (Namsan1567) by conducting conservation treatment and restoring the socks to their original form for use in research and exhibition. Leather socks are referred to in ancient documents with names combining the word "mal" for socks with a term indicating their material (e.g., pimal, meaning leather socks; nokpimal, meaning deer leather socks; jangpimal, meaning roe deer leather socks, or lipimal, meaning racoon dog leather socks) and are mentioned mostly in connection with Jeju Island. Related documents include the Seungjeongwon ilgi (Daily Record of the Grand Secretariat), Injaeilnok (Diary of Injae Jo Geukseon), and Hamel's Journal and a Description of the Kingdom of Joseon. Extant examples of ancient leather socks display the same form as beoseon (traditional Korean socks) and are made of either leather or a combination of leather and fabric. It is likely that such leather socks were worn on Jeju Island to protect the feet from the cold. A condition survey of the leather socks was first conducted to establish a plan for their conservation treatment. Since the socks were in rather poor condition, it was decided to identify their original form through an investigation of relics and pertinent previous studies. The socks were cleaned in consideration of results of the condition survey, and the missing parts around the necks of the socks were reinforced in a reversible manner using counting stitches with cloth dyed to match the original color. Since the bottoms of the socks had lost much of their original form due to deterioration and disintegration in the leather, supports were made and inserted inside the socks to help retain their shape. Through these processes, the structure and characteristics of the socks and the techniques used in their production could be analyzed, their condition was stabilized, and their original form was recovered.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.26
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• pp.83-182
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• 2021

This study summarized the results of the conservation treatment and investigation on the production method of the golden crown (Treasure No. 339) excavated from Tomb No. 129 (also known as Seobongchong Tomb) in Noseo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. The golden crown from Seobongchong Tomb was discovered during the excavations conducted by the Museum of the Government-General of Korea in 1926 during the Japanese colonial era. It is currently in the collection of the National Museum of Korea. A total of six Silla golden crowns have survived in Korea, among which the crown from Seobongchong Tomb is the only example with a dome-shaped hemispherical decoration attached with a bird ornament while otherwise showing the typical features of Silla crowns. The crown had been repaired following its excavation using metallic materials and adhesives, but due to the partial deformation and damage brought about by the repair materials, it required further conservation treatment. This article describes in detail the overall process of the conservation treatment and the restoration of the original form of the golden crown from Seobongchong Tomb, particularly the method of reinforcing the joints to secure the stability of the crown. It presents the characteristics of the crown's production as revealed in the investigation during the conservation treatment, and further analyzes the relationship of this crown from Seobongchong Tomb with other Silla crowns through a comparison of their production techniques. The investigation revealed that the crown was primarily decorated with golden sequins at the time of its production. At a later point some of the sequins in the upright ornament were replaced with comma-shaped jade beads and additional comma-shaped jade beads were added to the headband. In order to determine if such modifications to the decoration had occurred with other Silla crowns, the decoration of the six extant Silla golden crowns were investigated. The crown from Cheonmachong Tomb features traces of this same modification to the decoration and possesses other similarities with the crown from Seobongchong Tomb.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.19
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• pp.43-56
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• 2006

We checked the conditions and material properties after producing the lime finishing layers with a mortar mix of processed lime. In addition, we reproduced the lime finishing layers of the Koguryo Tomb Murals, colored the layers with a few different techniques and identified the characteristics for each painting technique. As a result of the experiment, we could infer the producing techniques as well as teaming the conditions and properties of the lime finishing layers of the Koguryo tomb murals, and examined the maintenance of the lime finishing layers. Of those samples produced under various conditions, the layers of slaked lime, which were obtained after being hydrated underground for a long time, showed quite a good condition. Thus the slaked lime mixes produced through particular hydration methods are judged to increase the maintenance of the lime finishing layers of the Koguryo Tomb Murals. Mostly, the paints of Koguryo Tomb Murals indicated that they have similar conditions with the samples produced with a secco method. In addition, Considering the compositional forms of the painting layers and the boundary layers which formed between the painting layers and the finishing layers, we can verify that, in some cases, the conditions of the painting layers of the Koguryo tomb murals are similar to those which were produced with a combination of fresco and secco.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.235-247
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• 2016

Conventional imaging techniques such as ultraviolet, infrared, and X-ray are used mainly to diagnose the damaged parts of the painted cultural assets in Korea. These techniques, however, have limits in diagnosing damages of interlayer parts. We have performed and extensive study on the applicability of Terahertz(THz) analysis technique, introduced recently to this field of study on cultural properties in Korea, to diagnose painted cultural assets. The specimens, produced to imitate the damage types of Korean painted properties, were analyzed over their painting, supporting, and backing layers by terahertz pulse imaging technique. The analyzed results provided information about the cracks, the separated areas, and the separated distances between layers on the specimens. Our research, then, was extended to real painted cultural remains, Birojana Sam-shin Gwebul-do at Bongseon Temple in Namyang-ju, Korea National Treasure Number 1792, through which we have obtained 3D information about the extent and pattern of damages to the asset. These results demonstrate that terahertz 3D imaging technique has the capability of noncontact 3D diagnosis on painted cultural properties.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.17
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• pp.1-16
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• 2016

The gold buckle excavated from Seogam-ri Tomb No. 9(National Treasure No. 189), one of the oldest gold artifacts discovered within the Korean Peninsula, was created using granulation techniques. The buckle is made with 22.8K gold sheets and features a decorative design with seven dragons in repousse metalwork. The outlines of the dragons and the edge of the buckle are finished with 23.8K gold wires and granules. Some curved sections of the buckle are also covered with an extra sheet of 23.8K gold, possibly added to repair defects discovered during production or thereafter. Gold wire used to render the dragon's nostrils is slightly lower in purity(23.3K) and was probably preferred in this case due to its increased hardness. As a result, the metal is better able to retain the complex shape of the dragons' nostrils, created by rolling gold wire into spirals. The buckle's gold granules are found in small, medium and large sizes and are presumed to have been bonded using copper. The foreheads and the bodies of the seven dragons are inset with turquoise and the eyes are decorated with red cinnabar/vermillion(HgS).