APPLICATIONS

Dating : terracotta - Authentication : terracotta - Authentication : metal - Authentication : stone - Authentication : wood - Authentication : paintings

A. Dating of terracotta (ceramic) objects :

1. Thermoluminescence

B. Authentication of terracotta (ceramic) objects :

1. Surface examination with a stereomicroscope
2. Internal surface examination with an endoscope
3. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the alloy

C. Authentication of metallic objects (essentially : bronzes) :

1. Metallographic examination
2. Surface examination with a binocular microscope
3. Analysis of the patina and the inner corrosion
4. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the alloy

D. Authentication of stone objects :

1. Surface examination with a binocular microscope
2. Elementary analysis of the metallic concretions

E. Dating of wooden objects :

1. Carbon-14
2. Identification of the pigments in polychrome wooden scuptures, by the microfluorescence-X

F. Authentication, dating and attributing of old paintings :

1. Establishing the stratigraphy of the pictorial substrata through the optical microscopy
2. Establishing the stratigraphy of the pictorial substrata through the electronic microscopy
3. Identification of the pigments by the microfluorescence-X
4. Identification of the colourings by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
5. Identification of the binders by the Fourier transform (method allowing the determination of the type of molecule and thus the category of the binder) and the gaz chromatography connected to mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
6. Study of the underlying drawing by the reflectography
7. Study of the lead white distribution by the radiography
8. * Locating of the touching-up by the UV photography
9. Verification with a stereomicroscope of the authenticity of the signature