A Study of Pigment, Adhesive, and Firing Temperature in Pottery Figurines Excavated from the Tomb of Qibi Ming, China
Yanli Li,
Haiqiang Guo,
Ke Xiao,
Panpan Liu,
Xiaolian Chao,
Peng Fu,
Huiping Xing,
Yuhu Li
Affiliations
Yanli Li
Engineering Research Center of Historical Cultural Heritage Conservation, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Haiqiang Guo
Xianyang Museum, Xianyang 712039, China
Ke Xiao
Xianyang Museum, Xianyang 712039, China
Panpan Liu
Engineering Research Center of Historical Cultural Heritage Conservation, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Xiaolian Chao
Engineering Research Center of Historical Cultural Heritage Conservation, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Peng Fu
Shaanxi Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Xi’an 710075, China
Huiping Xing
Engineering Research Center of Historical Cultural Heritage Conservation, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Yuhu Li
Engineering Research Center of Historical Cultural Heritage Conservation, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Some painted pottery figurines were excavated from the tomb of Qibi Ming of the Tang Dynasty. A series of analytical techniques were employed to understand the craftsmanship of these painted pottery figurines. The pigment, cross-section, adhesive, and firing temperature were analyzed using microscopy (OM), energy X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDX), micro-Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), and a dilatometer (DIL). The results demonstrated that the surface of the pigment layers had degraded to different degrees. The pigment particles were litharge, gypsum, malachite, cinnabar, hematite, minium, white lead, and carbon black. The cross-sectional images show that the painted layer of figurines 10-0966 and 10-0678 included a pigment layer and a preparation layer. The preparation layer of both pigments was lead white. Animal glue was used as an adhesive. The firing temperature of the pottery figurines was likely 1080 °C. This study can provide more accurate information with regard to the composition of the raw materials utilized in the making of these artifacts and support the selection of appropriate substances for the purposes of conservation and restoration of the painted pottery figurines.
