Knowledge of Conservation and Restoration

Analytic and Comparative Study of Physical-Historical Changes in Haj Rajab Ali Mosque in Tehran City

Arezu Feizolahbeigi

Haj Rajab Ali mosque is one of the historic buildings in Tehran city, made in Qajar era. Despite being prominent the building has not been studied very carefully. The existing literature, shows informationonly about the current status of the construction. Most of the information obtained from these researches isn’t consistent with the information in the historical documents of different periods, especially in terms of physical form, and there are contradictions in the shape, time, and also the date of construction of the building. In this regard, the present study examines the physical changes of the building. The main purpose of this research is to study the historical developments, in particular from the physical viewpoint in different periods to determine the time of the origin and the course of changes. For this purpose, a qualitative research method has been used with a descriptive-analytical-comparative approach. Data collection method is document studies, field surveys and interviews.

Unlike some sources, findings of the research showed that the building belongs to Mohammad Shah Qajar period. Also, unlike the information in sources the inscription in the building doesn't show the date of end of construction and shows that the completion process of the building continues after this date. Data analysis showed that physical form of building has not been changed from completion time to mid -1960s. Arial photo interpretation determines that most physical changes occurred from end of 1960s to mid 1980s which protruded heterogeneous functions to the building. The results of the research, through analysis and interpretation of the data, which are scientifically and legally legit, have been able to chronologically correct the changes and help to redesign the changes and course of the physical-historical modifications of the building, which is effective in resolving the ambiguities. Finally, combination and analysis of data obtained from the historic maps and Arial photos data led to definition of four main steps in physical changes in the building which also defines the physical authenticity of different parts of the building.

A spectral imaging examination of cultural artifacts: study of three historical artifacts from Great museum of Khorasan

Ehsan Harati

Reflection and fluorescent imaging techniques play a very important role in conservation of cultural heritage. Visible images are the best tool to register and inspect an art work in the absence of it. Nowadays modern digital camera facilitate this process. Additionally, ultraviolet (UV) images are a good tool to analyse painting surface layer and investigate the conservation state of objects. Also, UV florescent reveals information about chemical nature of varnish, pigments, restoration treatment and retouches. This technique is fast, inexpensive and in-situ. In current paper, we investigated the potential of ultra-violet fluorescence and visible reflectance technique to investigate the current conservation state of an oil painting and two manuscripts. The apparent characteristics of the work were examined and recorded by image of Visible light and image of fluorescence. The Florence image has patched up areas that have lost their color or identified areas that had been restored, so the Florence image, in the absence of a history of the effect, gives a clear picture of the condition of the previous restoration and the damage done to the painting. Also, in examining a historical-cultural version, it was possible to identify the areas that had been biologically attacked. Examination of another manuscript with ultraviolet fluorescence radiation showed that the red color used in the prescription is probably a discolored pigment.

Recognition Studies in Conservation and Restoration of Historical Canvas-Marouflaged Murals

Yaser Hamzavi

Murals are the main, media of human culture and civilization and the place and its long history in Iranian art is clear. There are specific forms of mural paintings in some Iranian architecture that are different from other usual wall paintings in materials, methods as well as implementation techniques. Unfortunately, these mural paintings are not studied certainly until now. Therefore, further investigation is needed due to the importance of this issue. Regarding to importance of necessity of art understanding before conservation, it is obvious that common conservation procedures on these relics (without appropriate understanding) have an inappropriate results on authenticity and integrity of the relics. Unfortunately, there is not adequate research about technology and conservation of these relics and related fields. Historical points, manufacturing and used materials, effects of technological problems, as introduction to conservation plan were main questions. The aim of this research is the identification of history of development, and used materials and techniques in these historic paintings by field and literature investigations. Technological understanding of this kind of murals during the time by application of literature review and data explanation. Due to low information in Persian, European Marouflaged Mural has been studied more than Iranian relics. The research subject and case studies are studied in a qualitative and descriptive research method and the subject is considered with ten historical and theoretical aspects. These paintings are executed on the layer of cloth (canvas) and then installed on the wall that is known as a part of the architecture arrays. This research at the first library study is conducted and then according to the results, the field studies are carried out and finally, the data are analyzed. Knowing the number of Marouflage according to literature review, the identification of constituent layers of Marouflage according to field studies, and Understanding the differences between a common wall Paintings and Marouflaged Mural in Iran, are the results of this paper. In this paper, the process of formation of this type of wall painting in Iran was studied and present examples of this method in Iranian architecture are introduced and explained. Some of the architectural interior surfaces are decorated by the textile painting by Marouflaged in Ilkhanid, Safavid and Quajar period; funerary monuments with polygonal plan have the most decorative surfaces such as Soltanieh Dome, Sheykh Safi mausoleum, Maryam church, Golestan palace and etc. According to studies, there was technical change in manufacturing process of large wall paintings and ceiling paintings at Renaissance period. It resulted to production of new kind of murals which known as Marouflaged Mural. The research obtained appropriate results about production, manufacturing, historical samples and effect of technological problems on conservation of Marouflaged Mural.

Technological Recognition and Damage Study in One of the Three Bronze Rods Excavated from Tehran-Qarchak Pardis Tepe Cemetery

Hamid Reza Bakhshandehfard

The cemetery of the Pardis Tepe, located in Qarchak of Tehran province, is a valuable historic landmark of the Iron Age which has been discovered in the excavations of these bronze wire objects. Despite the historical importance of the metal objects discovered in Tehran, no independent research has been carried out on the metal objects obtained from this site, in terms of technological and pathological aspects, using laboratory and methodological methods. The aim of this paper was to study a bronze rod found in Tepe Pardis, in terms of species and application, regarding technical questions about elemental combinations and the method of making and technological position of the study area. For this purpose, instrumental analysis methods such as AAS, SEM-EDS were used to identify the alloying technique, the chemical composition of the alloy, and metallography to identify the manufacturing method. Historical studies of the object attributed it to the Iron Age. Based on elemental data analysis, the composition used to make copper-tin alloy objects (bronze) and microstructure analysis by metallography, these objects were made by continuous thermal / mechanical operations. Depending on the results of the XRD test, cuprite, malachite and nantokite compounds were identified in corrosion products. Due to the significant presence of Nantokite, it can be said that the object has active corrosion.

Evaluation of Nano Zinc Oxide Treatment for Conservation of White Poplar Wood (Populus alba L.) Against Photochemical Weathering

Mohsen Mohammadi Achachluei

Wood is an organic material which has been used for manufacturing of different historic relics. There are many historic wooden relics in open air spaces under effect of environmental factors. Weathering and its photochemical decay is one of the most important degradation factors of these relics in dry and semi dry climates. Therefore, it is necessary to study different procedures for conservation of these relics. Nano Zinc Oxide characteristics were studied as a conservation treatment for wood against photochemical weathering. Samples were prepared from White Poplar (Populus alba L.) as a widely used wood in historic relics of Iran. Specimens were treated with Nano Zinc Oxide suspension in isopropanol by surface treatment. Specimens were artificially weathered regarding to ASTM 2565-99 in 300, 800 and 2000 hours as three time levels. Samples were analyzed by evaluation of mass loss, pH measurement, Colorimeter, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Results showed that the treatment does not prevent aesthetical change of wood appearance in weathering process although the alteration was not severe. The treatment reduces weathering effects but does not prevent its structural degradation. During the time and under effect of weathering, Zinc Oxide nanoparticles will lose their function as ultraviolet absorbent due to chemical reactions with wood structures and first degradation products. Therefore, its efficiency won’t be enough in long term period.

Synthesis of Titanium Nano-particles and Studying Surface Resistance of Cyrus Tomb’s Carbonated Stones

Morteza Heidari

In this study, cheap nanoparticles with the highest hybrid similarity were introduced to increase the surface resistance of ancient Pasargadae (Cyrus Tomb) rocks. As result, the kind of mineral of thin section of sample was detected as calcite and grainstone texture. The physical features of the sample indicated a high porosity. In order to achieve a high compatibility of the intended Nano materials, some powder of the sample was used as pre-material through Mechanical Grinder. After preparation of the powder, Nano material was prepared due to sol-gel method. Calcium Titanate blurs with the phase of Perovskite and Titanium dioxide with the phase of Anatase have been detected as XRD. These compounds were confirmed by FT-IR. The size of spherical and oval blurs prepared in the scale of Nano was confirmed by SEM. The existence of common elements such as Calcium, Titanium, Oxygen and Carbon was detected as EDX spectrometer. In this experience, Ethanol was used as solvent. In 4 hours, the gained Colloidal dissolved was added on the surface of the stone by the capillary specific. So as to module the resistance of the sample, the coated surface was examined under the abrasion test. Along with these experiments, all the levels for pre-material lime were done. The results show a relative improvement in the surface resistance of the sample rock. Meanwhile, there wasn’t any remarkable change in the case of the color of the sample.

Characterization of Restorative Mortars for Application in The Pasargadae World Heritage Site

Parsa Pahlavan

In this study, considerations for design, characterization, and in-situ application of sustainable materials for restorative use in the Pasargadae world heritage site are discussed. Based on some prior studies on sustainable waste-based restorative mortars, air lime mortars were made from lime putty, mixture of stones from the site, and additive sesame oils. The mortar samples were characterized in terms of microstructure, carbonation rate, hydric properties, and durability. The characterization aimed at compatibility assessment of mortars with a real situation. Considering the variety of natural conditions parameters compared to the laboratory, the mortar samples were also characterized in the site conditions. The results suggested the laboratory characterization, if done properly, can provide a promising degree of representation for the field conditions.

Comparison of the Lead Isotopic Ratios in the Ancient Silver Mines of Iran and Provenance of Silver Vessels

Fereshteh Rahimi

The geochemical information of the old mines such as lead isotopic ratios has a crucial role in understanding the origin of minerals, especially the evaluation of metal sources. This study was conducted to obtain a pattern or map of the geochemical information of Iran's lead, zinc and silver reserves. The previous studies on the provenance of Sasanian silver vessels from Quri Qaleh cave, showed the lead isotopic ratio of these vessels conformed to Nakhlak mine, but since these examinations were not done on other old silver mines, it was not possible to make a definitive conclusion. Today, in the archaeometallurgical studies and the determination of the origin, multicollector- inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (MC-ICP-MS) is used. And since these studies are done on a global scale and the obtained information is recorded in the world wide database, it is necessary to use a similar method to carry out these experiments until the obtained information can be compared with each other. As the measurement of isotopes of elements has many applications in various sciences, especially in geological studies, the analysis of lead isotopes is used for dating of ores, provenance of metals and defining a geotectonic environment for ore deposits. Therefore, the results obtained from these studies on the desired mines could be used to calculate the isotopic ratios of lead for provenance and the source determination studies. In this study, the lead isotopic ratios of some of the ancient silver mines in Iran were compared. Comparing the results of analysis of lead isotope ratios for a number of ancient silver mines in Iran showed that the difference in lead isotope ratios of lead, zinc and silver reserves in the zone and geological axes of Iran is such that it can be used in the origin of ancient metalworking sites that mainly contain lead, zinc and silver minerals.