Spectroscopy investigation of triptych icon from the Borsa Church, Maramures County

Abstract

A triptych icon from the 18th century from Borsa Maramure's County, Romania was investigated by physicalchemical destructive and nondestructive methods: Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction and thermal analysis by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). There were identified: gypsum as ground, wooden stage (lime wood), egg yolk as binder, pigments from the painting layer (red lead, green malachite and white lead), silver foil, iron bolus and animal glue for ground. The scientific investigation of various religious objects in general, this wooden icon in the present case, is a mandatory step in the approach to conservation and restoration of cultural goods.