Several glass mosaic tesserae were recovered during the archeological excavation of the thermal b... more Several glass mosaic tesserae were recovered during the archeological excavation of the thermal baths at the ‘Villa dei Quintili’ in Rome and dated to the second century ad. This work reports the results of an archeometrical investigation performed, through a multi‐technique approach, on 19 colored opaque tesserae. The aims of the study were (1) the characterization of coloring and opacifying agents used for the production of the glass tesserae and (2) the definition of the technological processes involved. Colorimetric measurements allowed us to classify the tesserae in color groups, while the glassy matrix and the dispersed crystallites were characterized in detail through micro‐Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry, and X‐ray powder diffraction analyses. Most of the glass shows the typical soda‐lime‐silicate composition (except for the orange and red te...
Restoration and conservation procedures for historical musical instruments involve several issues... more Restoration and conservation procedures for historical musical instruments involve several issues, also connected with their frequent being played. One of the most delicate procedures for their preservation is the cleaning of surfaces from soil and dirt which have accumulated over the years. In fact, when external particles reach the surface, a fraction of them can deposit on it. Moreover, the contact with the player can generate chemical-physical changes, rapidly warming and wetting the surfaces through sweat deposition. This work focused on the cleaning methods of surfaces of bowed string musical instruments by a systematic and analytical approach. The selective cleaning procedure of varnished surfaces from grime and soil needs to be performed without compromising the original matter. Therefore, a dirty surface was reproduced on a set of varnished mock-ups and different water-based cleaning systems—generally used by restorers—were tested. The procedures were monitored in each step...
In this work, one of the two existing mandolins made by Antonio Stradivari has been investigated ... more In this work, one of the two existing mandolins made by Antonio Stradivari has been investigated for the first time, as a rare exemplar of the lesser-known class of plucked string instruments. The mandolin was studied by non-invasive reflection Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) on different areas previously selected by UV-induced fluorescence imaging. The analytical campaign was aimed at (i) identifying the materials used by Stradivari in the finishing of the mandolin, (ii) comparing these materials with those traditionally used in violin making, and (iii) increasing the knowledge of materials and techniques applied by Stradivari in the rare production of plucked string instruments. The combined spectroscopic approach allowed us to hypothesize original materials and finishing procedures similar to those used in violin making: a possible sizing treatment of the wood with protein-based materials and silicates, externally coated with an oil–...
Giacomo Fiocco,a,b Claudia Invernizzi,a,c Tommaso Rovetta,a Michela Albano,a,d Marco Malagodi,a,e... more Giacomo Fiocco,a,b Claudia Invernizzi,a,c Tommaso Rovetta,a Michela Albano,a,d Marco Malagodi,a,e Patrizia Davitb and Monica Gulminib Laboratorio Arvedi di Diagnostica Non Invasiva, CISRiC, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Bell’Aspa 3, 26100 Cremona, Italy Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 7/A, 43124 Parma, Italy Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy Dipartimento di Musicologia e Beni Culturali, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Corso Garibaldi 178, 26100 Cremona, Italy
During the recent decades the identification of scientific instruments as a cultural heritage obj... more During the recent decades the identification of scientific instruments as a cultural heritage objects, has been drawing more attention to their preservation: a lack of knowledge is drastically evident and fill it is demanding. Varnishes from the 18th century applied as finishing of brass component in Europe are known as imitation of Chinese lacquer coming from the oriental tradition. It was considered to own the best aesthetic and mechanical properties in that period during which the manufacturing reached its apogee, and today it protects a great number of historical masterpieces’ surface. A non-invasive methodology is employed to characterize the varnish reproduced with a traditional recipe and to monitor the effect of three cleaning methods widely spread within the restorers’
The intrinsic complexity of the coating systems on historical bowed string musical instruments co... more The intrinsic complexity of the coating systems on historical bowed string musical instruments complicates the characterization of the different materials that have been subsequently spread on the wood. Even more challenging is the identification of their spatial distribution in the sequence of the finishing layers. To face both issues, in this study we combined Synchrotron radiation micro FTIR in reflection geometry and Chemometrics for the investigation of five micro-samples mounted in crosssections, removed from musical instruments made by Antonio Stradivari, Francesco Ruggeri and Lorenzo Storioni. A classification model based on Partial Least Squares – Discriminant Analysis aimed at discriminating the organic materials through infrared signals was developed. High model specificity (> 0.9) was reached in prediction, doing the groundwork for the application of a fast and rigorous methodological
In the present work, we had the opportunity to study the coating systems of three different coeva... more In the present work, we had the opportunity to study the coating systems of three different coeval violins, namely “Spagnoletti”, “Stauffer”, and “Principe Doria”, made by Giuseppe Guarneri “del Gesù” in 1734. These three violins were non-invasively investigated by reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. These two techniques were combined for the first time with a 3D laser scanner. The analytical campaign enabled the characterization of the materials and their distribution within the stratigraphy, mainly composed of varnish and, when present, of a proteinaceous ground coat. Some restoration materials were also identified, suggesting the application of different maintenance treatments undertaken during their history. The preliminary information about morphological and geometrical differences between the three coeval violins were acquired through the 3D laser scanner in order to observe similarities and differences in the design features among the th...
Abstract Modification of IR spectral features were reported in the literature when surfaces with ... more Abstract Modification of IR spectral features were reported in the literature when surfaces with diverse morphologies were analysed. In this study, five surfaces at different average roughness (Sa) were created on a massive slice of malachite with the final aim to investigate possible variations of spectral features collected through non-contact infrared reflection spectroscopy. Modifications were investigated as a function of Sa, with five frequency intervals being considered. The spectral acquisition was carried out by two portable spectrometers equipped with specific non-invasive optical heads, operating in External Reflection (ER) and Diffuse Reflection (DR) modes, respectively. A comparison study of the collected spectral profiles is proposed in this work . The analysis of spectra produced by surfaces at different roughness allowed for evaluating the effectiveness of each device in the different spectral ranges. The ER spectra were generally more resolved and cleaner compared to the DR ones. The ER module was able to return spectra whose features - both specular and diffuse - consistently follow the variation of Sa in the investigated spectral ranges. A lack of sensitivity was instead registered when working in DR mode, especially in the frequency intervals where the contribution of the diffuse component dominates the spectra.
Soiling deposition and wrong conservation practices are among the causes of the decay process tha... more Soiling deposition and wrong conservation practices are among the causes of the decay process that can affect the morphological, mechanical, and compositional features of the varnish, the most exposed layer of an artefact. In this perspective, the identification of the best cleaning practices is a priority. During the 18th century, scientific instruments of the highest quality were built, and peculiar varnishes were produced to confer protection and elegance to their metal elements. For this study, based on a historical recipe, we have reproduced a peculiar spirit varnish, enriched with natural resins and colorants, and we have applied on it a synthetic soiling mixture to simulate the aging conditions. We have then performed a non-invasive multi-analytical study to monitor the effectiveness of two water-based and a silicone-based, cleaning methods, namely, water in agarose, Tween 20 (3%) in agarose, and Velvesil™ Plus. The study includes colorimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR...
Musical instruments are tools for playing music, but for some of them—made by the most important ... more Musical instruments are tools for playing music, but for some of them—made by the most important historical violin makers—the myths hide the physical artwork. Ancient violin-making Masters developed peculiar construction methods and defined aesthetic canons that are still recognizable in their musical instruments. Recently, the focus of scientific investigations has been set on the characterization of materials and methods used by the ancient violin makers by means of several scientific approaches. In this work, the merits of synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the investigation of complex coatings systems on historical bowed string musical instruments are discussed. Five large fragments removed during past restorations from instruments produced by Jacobus Stainer, Gasparo da Salò, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, and Lorenzo Guadagnini have been considered for a non-invasive insight by tomographic techniques and the results are discusse...
International journal of analytical chemistry, 2018
This study presents mid and near-infrared (7500-375 cm) total reflection mode spectra of several ... more This study presents mid and near-infrared (7500-375 cm) total reflection mode spectra of several natural organic materials used in artworks as binding media, consolidants, adhesives, or protective coatings. A novel approach to describe and interpret reflectance bands as well as calculated absorbance after Kramers-Kronig transformation (KKT) is proposed. Transflection mode spectra have represented a valuable support both to study the distorted reflectance bands and to validate the applicability and usefulness of the KK correction. The aim of this paper is to make available to scientists and conservators a comprehensive infrared reflection spectral database, together with its detailed interpretation, as a tool for the noninvasive identification of proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, and resins by means of portable noncontact FTIR spectrometers.
Several glass mosaic tesserae were recovered during the archeological excavation of the thermal b... more Several glass mosaic tesserae were recovered during the archeological excavation of the thermal baths at the ‘Villa dei Quintili’ in Rome and dated to the second century ad. This work reports the results of an archeometrical investigation performed, through a multi‐technique approach, on 19 colored opaque tesserae. The aims of the study were (1) the characterization of coloring and opacifying agents used for the production of the glass tesserae and (2) the definition of the technological processes involved. Colorimetric measurements allowed us to classify the tesserae in color groups, while the glassy matrix and the dispersed crystallites were characterized in detail through micro‐Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry, and X‐ray powder diffraction analyses. Most of the glass shows the typical soda‐lime‐silicate composition (except for the orange and red te...
Restoration and conservation procedures for historical musical instruments involve several issues... more Restoration and conservation procedures for historical musical instruments involve several issues, also connected with their frequent being played. One of the most delicate procedures for their preservation is the cleaning of surfaces from soil and dirt which have accumulated over the years. In fact, when external particles reach the surface, a fraction of them can deposit on it. Moreover, the contact with the player can generate chemical-physical changes, rapidly warming and wetting the surfaces through sweat deposition. This work focused on the cleaning methods of surfaces of bowed string musical instruments by a systematic and analytical approach. The selective cleaning procedure of varnished surfaces from grime and soil needs to be performed without compromising the original matter. Therefore, a dirty surface was reproduced on a set of varnished mock-ups and different water-based cleaning systems—generally used by restorers—were tested. The procedures were monitored in each step...
In this work, one of the two existing mandolins made by Antonio Stradivari has been investigated ... more In this work, one of the two existing mandolins made by Antonio Stradivari has been investigated for the first time, as a rare exemplar of the lesser-known class of plucked string instruments. The mandolin was studied by non-invasive reflection Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) on different areas previously selected by UV-induced fluorescence imaging. The analytical campaign was aimed at (i) identifying the materials used by Stradivari in the finishing of the mandolin, (ii) comparing these materials with those traditionally used in violin making, and (iii) increasing the knowledge of materials and techniques applied by Stradivari in the rare production of plucked string instruments. The combined spectroscopic approach allowed us to hypothesize original materials and finishing procedures similar to those used in violin making: a possible sizing treatment of the wood with protein-based materials and silicates, externally coated with an oil–...
Giacomo Fiocco,a,b Claudia Invernizzi,a,c Tommaso Rovetta,a Michela Albano,a,d Marco Malagodi,a,e... more Giacomo Fiocco,a,b Claudia Invernizzi,a,c Tommaso Rovetta,a Michela Albano,a,d Marco Malagodi,a,e Patrizia Davitb and Monica Gulminib Laboratorio Arvedi di Diagnostica Non Invasiva, CISRiC, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Bell’Aspa 3, 26100 Cremona, Italy Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 7/A, 43124 Parma, Italy Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy Dipartimento di Musicologia e Beni Culturali, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Corso Garibaldi 178, 26100 Cremona, Italy
During the recent decades the identification of scientific instruments as a cultural heritage obj... more During the recent decades the identification of scientific instruments as a cultural heritage objects, has been drawing more attention to their preservation: a lack of knowledge is drastically evident and fill it is demanding. Varnishes from the 18th century applied as finishing of brass component in Europe are known as imitation of Chinese lacquer coming from the oriental tradition. It was considered to own the best aesthetic and mechanical properties in that period during which the manufacturing reached its apogee, and today it protects a great number of historical masterpieces’ surface. A non-invasive methodology is employed to characterize the varnish reproduced with a traditional recipe and to monitor the effect of three cleaning methods widely spread within the restorers’
The intrinsic complexity of the coating systems on historical bowed string musical instruments co... more The intrinsic complexity of the coating systems on historical bowed string musical instruments complicates the characterization of the different materials that have been subsequently spread on the wood. Even more challenging is the identification of their spatial distribution in the sequence of the finishing layers. To face both issues, in this study we combined Synchrotron radiation micro FTIR in reflection geometry and Chemometrics for the investigation of five micro-samples mounted in crosssections, removed from musical instruments made by Antonio Stradivari, Francesco Ruggeri and Lorenzo Storioni. A classification model based on Partial Least Squares – Discriminant Analysis aimed at discriminating the organic materials through infrared signals was developed. High model specificity (> 0.9) was reached in prediction, doing the groundwork for the application of a fast and rigorous methodological
In the present work, we had the opportunity to study the coating systems of three different coeva... more In the present work, we had the opportunity to study the coating systems of three different coeval violins, namely “Spagnoletti”, “Stauffer”, and “Principe Doria”, made by Giuseppe Guarneri “del Gesù” in 1734. These three violins were non-invasively investigated by reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. These two techniques were combined for the first time with a 3D laser scanner. The analytical campaign enabled the characterization of the materials and their distribution within the stratigraphy, mainly composed of varnish and, when present, of a proteinaceous ground coat. Some restoration materials were also identified, suggesting the application of different maintenance treatments undertaken during their history. The preliminary information about morphological and geometrical differences between the three coeval violins were acquired through the 3D laser scanner in order to observe similarities and differences in the design features among the th...
Abstract Modification of IR spectral features were reported in the literature when surfaces with ... more Abstract Modification of IR spectral features were reported in the literature when surfaces with diverse morphologies were analysed. In this study, five surfaces at different average roughness (Sa) were created on a massive slice of malachite with the final aim to investigate possible variations of spectral features collected through non-contact infrared reflection spectroscopy. Modifications were investigated as a function of Sa, with five frequency intervals being considered. The spectral acquisition was carried out by two portable spectrometers equipped with specific non-invasive optical heads, operating in External Reflection (ER) and Diffuse Reflection (DR) modes, respectively. A comparison study of the collected spectral profiles is proposed in this work . The analysis of spectra produced by surfaces at different roughness allowed for evaluating the effectiveness of each device in the different spectral ranges. The ER spectra were generally more resolved and cleaner compared to the DR ones. The ER module was able to return spectra whose features - both specular and diffuse - consistently follow the variation of Sa in the investigated spectral ranges. A lack of sensitivity was instead registered when working in DR mode, especially in the frequency intervals where the contribution of the diffuse component dominates the spectra.
Soiling deposition and wrong conservation practices are among the causes of the decay process tha... more Soiling deposition and wrong conservation practices are among the causes of the decay process that can affect the morphological, mechanical, and compositional features of the varnish, the most exposed layer of an artefact. In this perspective, the identification of the best cleaning practices is a priority. During the 18th century, scientific instruments of the highest quality were built, and peculiar varnishes were produced to confer protection and elegance to their metal elements. For this study, based on a historical recipe, we have reproduced a peculiar spirit varnish, enriched with natural resins and colorants, and we have applied on it a synthetic soiling mixture to simulate the aging conditions. We have then performed a non-invasive multi-analytical study to monitor the effectiveness of two water-based and a silicone-based, cleaning methods, namely, water in agarose, Tween 20 (3%) in agarose, and Velvesil™ Plus. The study includes colorimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR...
Musical instruments are tools for playing music, but for some of them—made by the most important ... more Musical instruments are tools for playing music, but for some of them—made by the most important historical violin makers—the myths hide the physical artwork. Ancient violin-making Masters developed peculiar construction methods and defined aesthetic canons that are still recognizable in their musical instruments. Recently, the focus of scientific investigations has been set on the characterization of materials and methods used by the ancient violin makers by means of several scientific approaches. In this work, the merits of synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the investigation of complex coatings systems on historical bowed string musical instruments are discussed. Five large fragments removed during past restorations from instruments produced by Jacobus Stainer, Gasparo da Salò, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, and Lorenzo Guadagnini have been considered for a non-invasive insight by tomographic techniques and the results are discusse...
International journal of analytical chemistry, 2018
This study presents mid and near-infrared (7500-375 cm) total reflection mode spectra of several ... more This study presents mid and near-infrared (7500-375 cm) total reflection mode spectra of several natural organic materials used in artworks as binding media, consolidants, adhesives, or protective coatings. A novel approach to describe and interpret reflectance bands as well as calculated absorbance after Kramers-Kronig transformation (KKT) is proposed. Transflection mode spectra have represented a valuable support both to study the distorted reflectance bands and to validate the applicability and usefulness of the KK correction. The aim of this paper is to make available to scientists and conservators a comprehensive infrared reflection spectral database, together with its detailed interpretation, as a tool for the noninvasive identification of proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, and resins by means of portable noncontact FTIR spectrometers.
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