Academic thesis

Christine Berberich: Studies on gold leaf and part gold – production, material analysis, aspects of their use and ageing characteristics Back
Language: Original   -   Translation
Overview:  
 
 
Optical Microscopy (transmitted light) of gold leaf (23 carat 16g/1000 leaves)
   

Specular reflection of water gilding in relation to the degree of burnishing
Abstract: The core of the work consisted of 140 samples of historical gildings with gold leaf or part gold from the period between 1000 and 1880 (including the Icon of St Luke from Freising, the Ghent Altarpiece, the Retable of Tyrol Castle and the Weißenburg altarpiece). The investigations focused especially on the period between 1200 and 1500. In order to classify the gilding according to leaf and layer thickness, the samples were prepared using ion polishing and analysed in a high-resolution FEG-SEM (field emission scanning electron microscope). Additional questions concerned the thickness and structure of modern leaf metals (investigations using TEM/STEM, XRF, RBS, AES and TOF-SIMS), the optical influence of the substrate (type and colour of the poliment, type of primer) and degree of polishing (colour, gloss and roughness measurements) as well as the special properties of part gold and its use in the production of medieval membrane threads. Raman investigations were also carried out in collaboration with Dr. Jana Sanyova (KIK-IRPA, Brussels) to investigate corrosion phenomena between silver and sulphur-containing pigments (cinnabar, arsenic sulphides).

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Keywords: gold leaf, goldbeating, part gold, corrosion, gilding, optics, FEG-SEM, FIB, membrane threads, Kirikane, ion milling, reaction of silver with cinnabar
 
Panoramic Image (optical microscopy, bright field) of the surface of part gold
 
Corroded part gold leaf on top of a gut membrane in a 14th century membrane thread
Details:
  • academic institution: Technische Universität München
  • kind of theses:  Diplomarbeit
  • main Tutor:  Professor Erwin Emmerling
  • assistant Tutor:  Prof. Dr. dott. Thomas Danzl
  • date:  2024
  • Language:  German
 
Contact:		  
Christine Berberich
christine@[Diesen Teil loeschen]berberi.ch
 
Annotation:		  
Extended abstract and presentation in English (German Archaeometry Conference 2025): URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/397527653_STUDIES_ON_GOLD_LEAF_AND_PART_GOLD_1000-1880_-_MATERIAL_ANALYSIS_AND_CORROSION

Extended Abstract (Deutsch), METALLA Sonderheft zur Deutschen Archäometrietagung 2025: https://metalla.org/index.php/METALLA/issue/view/393
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