Developing a methodology for artificially ageing lacquer

mazarin, chest, ageing, lacquer, conservation

  • This is an SEM image of the surface of the Mazarin Chest, showing the network of fine cracks on the Chest caused by exposure to light and cycling relative humidity over the past 350 years.

    This is an SEM image of the surface of the Mazarin Chest, showing the network of fine cracks on the Chest caused by exposure to light and cycling relative humidity over the past 350 years.

    This is an SEM image of the surface of the Mazarin Chest, showing the network of fine cracks on the Chest caused by exposure to light and cycling relative humidity over the past 350 years.

  • This SEM image shows the surface of freshly made lacquer. The highly glossy surface is almost featureless.

    This SEM image shows the surface of freshly made lacquer. The highly glossy surface is almost featureless.

    This SEM image shows the surface of freshly made lacquer. The highly glossy surface is almost featureless.

  • This SEM image shows that no observable change was caused by exposing a sample to light sources that imitated daylight for an extended period.

    This SEM image shows that no observable change was caused by exposing a sample to light sources that imitated daylight for an extended period.

    This SEM image shows that no observable change was caused by exposing a sample to light sources that imitated daylight for an extended period.

  • This SEM image shows the cracks caused by thermal shock, induced by exposing the lacquer sample to liquid nitrogen.

    This SEM image shows the cracks caused by thermal shock, induced by exposing the lacquer sample to liquid nitrogen.

    This SEM image shows the cracks caused by thermal shock, induced by exposing the lacquer sample to liquid nitrogen.

  • This SEM image shows the damage caused by exposing the lacquer to UV-C radiation.

    This SEM image shows the damage caused by exposing the lacquer to UV-C radiation.

    This SEM image shows the damage caused by exposing the lacquer to UV-C radiation.

  • This SEM image shows the damage caused by exposing the sample to a mercury tungsten light source and cycling relative humidity.

    This SEM image shows the damage caused by exposing the sample to a mercury tungsten light source and cycling relative humidity.

    This SEM image shows the damage caused by exposing the sample to a mercury tungsten light source and cycling relative humidity. This was the closest match to the surface of the Mazarin Chest we were able to achieve in-house, but additional development of artificial ageing protocols was undertaken by PhD students associated with the project.