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Pigment Analysis of Two Thai Banner Paintings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Jennifer Giaccai*
Affiliation:
jgiaccai@thewalters.org, Walters Art Museum, Conservation Division, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
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Abstract

The pigments used in two Thai banner paintings (phra bot) were examined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The two paintings examined dated from the late 18th and the late 19th century. The paintings examined follow the trends observed on Thai wall paintings and manuscripts from the same time periods. Pigments identified include vermilion, iron oxide earths, red lead, lead white (hydrocerrusite), calcium carbonate, kaolin, Prussian blue, gamboge, artificial ultramarine, copper citrate and a copper-arsenic green.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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