Conservar Património, no. 9 , 2009, pp. 57-66

Study of the red lacquer from a pair of Namban stirrups by Py-GC/MS

José Carlos Frade
Instituto dos Museus e da Conservação, Laboratório José de Figueiredo, Rua das Janelas Verdes 37, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal; Tropical Research Institute of Portugal, Forestry and Forest Products Group, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
fradejcp@gmail.com

Isabel Ribeiro
Instituto dos Museus e da Conservação, Laboratório José de Figueiredo, Rua das Janelas Verdes 37, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal

José Graça
Centro de Estudos Florestais, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

José Rodrigues
Tropical Research Institute of Portugal, Forestry and Forest Products Group, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract

Oriental lacquer is a material of vegetal origin that is used in the Asian countries as a coating for the most varied kinds of religious and civil use objects. With the Portuguese arrival to the East, the Europeans started to develop a taste for the exotic and exquisite Art of Lacquer. From the 16th century onwards a lacquerware market developed with numerous lacquered objects being brought to Europe. In this work, the red lacquer from a pair of Namban stirrups was studied by Py-GC/MS (pyrolysis-gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry). The results were compared with lacquer references, and the lacquer type was identified. Based on the results, the stirrups’ lacquering technique and the performance of Py-CG/MS in the identification of oriental lacquers are also discussed.

Keywords

Lacquer; Namban; Pyrolysis; Py-GC/MS.

Language

Portuguese

Original title

Estudo da laca vermelha de um par de estribos Namban por Py-GC/MS

Additional material

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