Knowledge of Conservation and Restoration

Identification of Copper-Arsenic Green Pigments in Some Paintings and Manuscript Decorations of the Qajar Period

Roya Bahadori

Synthetic green copper-arsenic pigments include two pigments: shale green (CuHAsO3) and emerald green (3Cu(AsO2)2.Cu(CH3CO)2)
,which were common in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. During the Qajar period, these two pigments were introduced to Iran due to trade with the West, and due to their cheapness and transparency, they quickly replaced other green pigments such as verdigris and malachite. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of these pigments in Qajar period paintings and to choose the best method to identify these two pigments. For this purpose, green was sampled from a painting on glass, a painting on wood, a mural, and a manuscript, all of which belonged to the Qajar period. To identify the pigments, instrumental methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) equipped with an ATR reflection cell, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy equipped with an X-ray dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) were used . The results proved the presence of emerald green in the painting behind the glass of the Rashvand Khaneh in Qazvin, the wall painting of the Karimkhani Citadel in Shiraz and the decorations used in a Quranic manuscript and Shaileh green in the painting on the wood of the Saqanfar in Babylon. The results also showed that the best and fastest method for analyzing these two compounds is FTIR, which can identify these two pigments with a minimum sample and distinguish them from each other due to their structural differences.

Evaluation of Degradation and Stability of Carbon Black Ink Made Based on Ancient Texts Under Aging Conditions

Kowsar Karbalai Mirza Shahrbabaki

Evaluation of the degradation and stability of soot ink made based on ancient texts under aging conditions. Soot ink is one of the inks that has been widely used in written works. Some of which are currently in our custody, so it is necessary to examine their degradation in order to prevent their further degradation. In this regard, in the present study, the degradation rate and stability of soot ink were investigated. The question of this study is what level of degradation and stability do the manufactured inks have? The purpose of this study was to examine soot ink, which was used in paper works, using laboratory instruments, pH meter, FTIR, optical microscope, colorimeter, and tensile strength meter.
To prepare the samples, the immersion method was used to impregnate the paper with ink, and an incubator was used to age the samples. The results of the acidity test (pH measurement) of the ink-impregnated papers show that the accelerated moisture-thermal aging process, especially after a period of 12 days, causes a decrease in pH compared to the samples before aging. The results of microscopic observations show that the aged sample has suffered from breakage in addition to the ink of the paper fibers. Analysis of the ATR-FTIR spectra in the carbon black sample indicates that cellulose undergoes structural changes during aging, but most of the changes are in the structure of the ink. According to the studies conducted, the results of this research indicate that the carbon black ink has relatively good stability during aging.

Structural and Technical Study of Khatam Kari Using Fourier ‎Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: Study of the Khatam Door of ‎Seyyed Mosque of Isfahan

Alireza Kouchzaei

Khatam Kari is one of the traditional Iranian arts with a long history, and numerous works of this art have survived ‎from past eras. Considering the limited technical studies on these works, their study plays an important role in better ‎understanding the process of making Khatam in the past. The diversity of Khatam materials and their different ‎reactions to conservation methods have a great impact on adopting the optimal conservation and treatment ‎method. As a result, identifying their constituent materials will be necessary to choose the correct method of dealing ‎with this type of works. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is one of the methods that can be used to ‎identify the nature of the organic materials that make up the khatam. Therefore, in this study, the khatam door ‎khatam of the Seyyed Mosque of Isfahan from the Qajar period was examined as a case study. For this purpose, ‎FTIR spectroscopy was used to investigate the structure and identify the materials used in its construction. The ‎results showed that the red-brown and black pieces in this khatam sample are made of wood and the white pieces ‎are made of bone. Also, Animal Glue was used as an adhesive in wrapping the khatam and lining it, and a mixture ‎containing terpenoid resins was used to finish and coat the khatam‏ ‏.

Study of the Decorations of the National Quran Museum's Muraqqas

Fezeh Rahimi Kharvana

Paper works in Iran include various types, including documents, books, and Muraqqas. Variety and quantity Many of these documents have caused some of these works to be less noticed, investigated and studied. Among these cases are the Muraqqas of the National Quran Museum, which are among the most prominent works of this museum that have not yet been studied. Accordingly, this study examines the Muraqqas of the National Quran Museum. Based on this, in this study, the research of the National Museum of the Qur'an has been done. The number of these Muraqqas is 7 manuscripts.
In this study, it has been studied in an analytical way, its different parts, which include the decorations of the cover and pages. Due to the fact that various arts are used in making and decorating the muraqqas. On the one hand, one can see exquisite examples of the arts of emblazonment, vassali, sector, bordering, text and bordering in its structure, and on the other hand, in the markings, arts such as calligraphy, painting, Illumination and tasheer can be seen in muraqqas. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to analyze different parts of seven muraqqas in the National Museum of the Quran. In this research, the decorations of the muraqqas have been examined.
In this research project, after conducting documentary research, the designs and type of calligraphy were analyzed, and their text was reread to determine what the subject matter of the margins was and how the arts used in book layout were used in these Muraqqas.

Conservation and Restoration of a Qajar Period Manuscript from a non-governmental Collection

Atefeh Sadat Sadr

Historical and cultural relics made of paper are among the most important artifacts of any culture and civilization and are valuable from a historical, artistic, scientific, economic, technical, and religious perspective. All paper materials change over time, so that this process cannot be completely stopped, but the speed of change can be controlled with conservation and restoration operations.
The manuscript studied in this research is a manuscript document belonging to the year 1287 AH, and the Qajar period.
The purpose of this research is to examine the used materials, pathology and finally to present a restoration plan for this manuscript. In this regard, after examining library resources, the fibers, glue, and materials used in the document were identified using laboratory studies, the type of ink used, and other tests for this document. Tests showed that the fibers of the document are wood and the sample contains a small amount of lignin, and the presence of starch and sugars was confirmed in the paste test. The acidity of the paper is 45.5 and the ink used in the document is of the metal-mazonite type and is sensitive to water. After completing the restoration stages of the document, the document was delivered to its owner.

Technology of a Paper Scroll Quran from Haj Rahim Mosque in ‎Tabriz

Leila Zarei

Studying and examining Quranic works is of great importance due to their respect and sanctity among Muslims, so ‎that the historical, cultural and religious value of such works doubles the importance of their protection and ‎preservation. The work examined in this study is a Quran scroll sample belonging to the Haj Rahim Mosque in ‎Tabriz. According to field research and statements by the board of trustees of the mosque, this scroll was placed ‎inside the mosque wall at an unknown time as a vow or talisman and was discovered in ‎‏1350‏‎ AH during the ‎reconstruction of the mosque through the thatched wall. During this study, the paper making technique and ink ‎used in the work were studied. In line with this goal, the type of paper fibers and paper pulp and the inks used in the ‎work, including black, red and gold pigment, and finally the glue used to join the sheets together were examined. All ‎the identifications made in this research were done using chemical methods except for the identification of the type ‎of glue used at the beginning and end of the sheets, which was done using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ‎device. The results indicate the use of linen and rag fibers and polysaccharide starch to prepare the paper and ‎carbon black ink, rosin pigment for the red ink, and copper oxide compounds for the gold color. Also, the glue used ‎at the beginning and end of the sheets was identified as -Serish- animal glue‏‏‏‏.

Why Should the Authority to Authenticate Artifacts Be Exclusively Assigned to Graduates of Historic Object Conservation?

Mitra Etezadi

Why should a specialized authority for artifact authentication—specifically in the fields of antiques, gemstones, and manuscript heritage—be established within the Official Experts Association of the Judiciary? And why should this authority, regardless of time or institutional fluctuations, most be reserved exclusively for certified experts with an academic degree in the conservation of historical, artistic, and cultural objects?