Technical study of bronze restoration from analysis of a snake-patterned Fu
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(The Palace Museum, Beijing 100009, China)

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    Abstract:

    There is a snake-patterned bronze Fu from the Warring States Period in the Forbidden City. It was mainly used as a utensil for serving millet, rice and beans during sacrifices and banquets. With the help of X-radiography, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and laser Raman spectrometry, ultraviolet fluorescence photography and micro-infrared spectrometry, we carried out scientific testing on the internal injury conditions, rust phases and rust levels of the flat line, the original repair traces and the suspected “jelly” fractures, etc. The results show that the snake-patterned Fu had been severely damaged. The matrix composition was a copper-tin-lead alloy, and the main corrosion phases were black copper ore, cuprite and malachite. The organic substance used in the original restoration material was shellac, and antique finishes such as barium sulfate, zinc sulfide, calcium carbonate, lead-chrome yellow, ultramarine blue, Paris green and atacamite were used. Finally, based on the study of the snake pattern, the characteristics of the “Beijing-style” bronze restoration technique are explained. The original restoration technique for the snake-patterned Fu is not much different from the traditional bronze restoration technique of the Palace Museum, which should belong to the category of “Beijing-style” bronze restoration technique.

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History
  • Received:September 22,2021
  • Revised:July 26,2022
  • Adopted:
  • Online: April 18,2023
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