Non-Destructive Analysis of Ancient Chinese Bronzes Utilizing Industrial Computed Tomography
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NON-DESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT CHINESE BRONZES UTILIZING INDUSTRIAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ELLEN B. AVRIL* AND STEPHEN D. BONADIES** *Associate Curator of Far Eastern Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1596 **Senior Conservator, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1596 ABSTRACT Industrial computed tomography was used to study eight Chinese bronzes from the collection of the Cincinnati Art Museum. With industrial CT two different types of images can be formed, the digital radiograph (DR) which produces a twodimensional image of the object and computed tomography (CT) which takes a crosssectional slice. A further advancement discussed is the use of General Electric's Digital Replica t m method to create a three-dimensional reconstruction of the object which enables one to view interior surfaces and to dissect joins. The paper discusses the numerous advantages of the industrial CT over conventional radiography. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the staff of General Electric Aircraft Engines, NDE Systems and Services, and the Quality Technology Center for making this project possible. Ancient Chinese Bronze Ritual Vessels The Chinese aristocracy of the Shang (circa 1550 to 1030 B.C.) Dynasty conunissioned sumptuous vessels cast in bronze for making ritual offerings of food and wine to their esteemed ancestors. The technical sophistication and extravagant consumption of raw materials required to produce these vessels attests to their importance as symbols of power for the ruling class. Enormous wealth was expended on the furnishing of tombs, in part because Chinese nobles believed that reverence for the needs of the ancestors in the afterlife would ensure the continued success of the clan on earth. Indeed, such extravagance also served to legitimize the status of the ruling clans in Shang society. The Cincinnati Art Museum's collection of Shang Dynasty Chinese ritual bronzes is comprised of superb examples dating from the 13th to 11th centuries B.C. Most come from the area of the ancient Shang capital at Anyang (in modern Henan Province) and represent the classic phase of Shang Dynasty bronze production. Analysis of the Cincinnati Art Museum's Chinese Bronzes In January, 1989, in the course of conducting research on the permanent collections, the authors embarked on a project to analyze eight Chinese bronzes using
Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 185. '1991 Materials Research Society
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x-radiography. The purpose of these analyses was to detect hidden damage and repairs in the vessels and to learn more about ancient casting techniques. Officials at General Electric Aircraft Engines, Evendale, Ohio, when approached by museum staff, suggested that industrial computed tomography (CT), a new technology being developed at GE's Quality Technology Center for scanning large jet engine parts, be used rather than conventional x-radiography. Until now, most museums studying ancient metalwork 1 have relied on conventional x-ray equipment. With this project the Cincinnati Art Museum in coope
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