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Spanish and Portuguese Gilding Threads: Characterization Using Microscopic Techniques

Part of: Micrographia Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 September 2018

Jose Luis Perez-Rodriguez ,
Antonio Albardonedo ,
Maria Dolores Robador  and
Adrian Duran
Jose Luis Perez-Rodriguez
Affiliation:
Materials Science Institute of Seville, CSIC-Seville University, Americo Vespucio 49, 41092 Seville, Spain
Antonio Albardonedo
Affiliation:
Faculty of Art History, University of Seville, Doña Maria de Padilla 1, 41004 Seville, Spain
Maria Dolores Robador
Affiliation:
Technical Architecture Faculty, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes 4, 41002 Seville, Spain
Adrian Duran*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
*
Author for correspondence: Adrian Duran, E-mail: adrianduran@unav.es
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Abstract

Gilding threads collected from Spanish and Portuguese palaces and from the embroideries and adornments of sculptures of the Virgin and Christ that form part of Sevillian Holy Week were analyzed and compared (20 artifacts were evaluated). The study covered a broad time period with examples from the 13th to 14th centuries, 18th to 20th centuries, and also including modern embroideries. A combination of scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used. The knowledge of the layered structures of the threads has provided very valuable information regarding the manufacturing techniques. The different metal threads found in the embroidery studied consisted of gold, silver, copper, and alloys of these metals and aluminium. The fabrication procedures often differed in the different workshops and changed with time. In the modern embroideries, a decrease of precious metal concentration was detected. The threads were wound around a core of silk threads.

Keywords

gilding threadsembroiderymetalsfibersmanufacturing techniques
Type
Micrographia
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 24 , Issue 5 , October 2018 , pp. 574 - 590
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2018 

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