Rare Japanese fabrics of the Ragusa-Kiyohara collection. A spectroscopic characterization

Paola Marzullo, Lucia Nucci, Elena Piacenza, Federica Arcidiacono, Delia Francesca Chillura Martino

Abstract

The Vincenzo Ragusa and O’Tama Kiyohara artefact collection belonging to the Liceo Artistico Ragusa Kiyohara in Palermo is one outstanding example of the artistic encounter between the European and Eastern worlds. In this contribution, we report a physical-chemical characterization of Japanese fabrics of the Ragusa- Kiyohara collection. Metallic threads finely decorate these fabrics conferring their preciousness. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and the Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were used as complementary techniques for elemental identification and molecular recognition. The artefacts presented here are a rare testimony of oriental art in our cultural heritage. Therefore, this work can be part of a path that, starting from the preliminary material knowledge, can develop appropriate restoration and conservation strategies.

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IMEKO-TC4-MetroArchaeo2022-042.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc4-ARC-2022.042

IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

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