Centre d'Analyses et de Recherche en Art et ArchéologiePigments are present everywhere in Art. They are found in prehistoric paintings on rock art, on stained-glass, on canvas and panel paintings, on statues, dyes on fabrics, glazed on terracotta, etc. They are everywhere and knowing their chemical structure is an undeniable asset for authentication, preservation and restoration. Understanding a work of art, an artist…
At CARAA we have a strong experience in the expertise of metals. We have to date made studies on statues (antique as well as modern), gilded bronzes from furniture, archaeological metallic artefacts, numismatic collections, etc. Our analyses aim to help in understanding and preserving the metal-based objects. The accuracy of physicochemical analyzes A physico-chemical analysis…
This category is also known under the classical term of “fire arts”. It includes glasses (coloured or not), stained-glass, porcelain, ceramic, terracotta, but also some siliceous materials which have not necessarily undergone intentional thermal metamorphosis: flint, obsidian, mosaics, … The study of the matrix and fillers The analyses that we conduct at CARAA on such…
Semi-precious stones, as well as rocks belong to the mineral world. Again, the role of CARAA is to determine the most efficient methods to scan an object according to its value, size, conservation state and, the sampling opportunities … or the non-invasive possibilities. Choosing the appropriate techniques Understanding a gem or a mineral might be…
The wide variety of existing materials adds to the intrinsic complexity of some organic molecules. Organic artefacts generally relate to wood, leather, bacteria, plants, bones, solvents, fibers, etc. Only organic materials related to the fields of Arts are treated at CARAA (wood, ivory, bone, varnishes, binders, dyes, polymers and plastics, etc.). Understanding the organic material…
The experience at CARAA in the analysis of toxic products include to date: the detection of asbestos, mercury and lead in art objects, arsenic in ethnological objects and taxidermy. Less known than pigments, metal alloys or ceramics, toxic materials yet exist in art. It is therefore imperative to remove or replace them with more stable…