A Materials Investigation into the Metal Composition and Coating Structures of Four Ming Dynasty Cast Iron Statues, with
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A Materials Investigation into the Metal Composition and Coating Structures of Four Ming Dynasty Cast Iron Statues, with Subsequent Discussion and Development of a Treatment Protocol Elizabeth A. Moffatt1, Aaron N. Shugar2, P. Jane Sirois1, and Susan Stock3 1 Canadian Conservation Institute, Department of Canadian Heritage, 1030 Innes Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0M5 Canada 2 Archaeometallurgy Lab, Materials Research Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA 3 Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C6 Canada ABSTRACT Four iron statues dated by inscription to the Ming Dynasty, China, (1491 A.D.) were investigated for their metal composition and coating structures. The investigation was initiated with the intent of ascertaining whether any prior treatment had been done and to determine the present condition of the objects. During visual examination and simple surface cleaning, it became apparent that the objects had some form of surface decoration and polychrome. On closer examination, gilding, lacquer, and traces of pigment around the hat, eyes, and garments were visible. A sample of the metal was taken for metallography and chemical compositional analysis. Samples were taken from the surface of the four objects to identify the composition of the observed decoration and corrosion. The results revealed that the statues are white cast iron and were fully decorated with multiple colours and gilding as well as being sequentially lacquered. Recommendations for the cleaning and conservation of these and similar objects are given. INTRODUCTION In the spring of 1999, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) acquired funding for the ‘Levy Sculpture Court’, which would house the ROM’s collection of Chinese cast iron statues. These statues had been in storage since the late 1970’s and therefore required conservation before they could be displayed. The statues are from the Ming Dynasty and their production can be dated to approximately 1491 A.D. Inscriptions incorporated into the casting provide details as to their date of production and the temple that commissioned their manufacture. The statues investigated here are so-called ‘Judges of Hell’, and are one of the main types of figures associated with the Chinese Buddhist temple. Other types are lohans, buddhas, bodhisativas and attendants. Their purpose in the temple was to watch over and care for the religious welfare of the participants and generally protect the spiritual interests of Buddhism [1]. These statues were produced of cast iron in piece moulds as indicated by the various casting seams surrounding the objects (Figure 1). Cast irons are alloys of iron and carbon which contain, when cast, more than 1.7% carbon (generally 2.4 to 4%). Silicon, manganese, sulphur and phosphorous are usually present in various amounts as well [2]. Iron casting was well known in China as early as the 5th century BCE, based on a sample dated from a grave site in Luhe, Jiangsu [3]. By the Ming Dynasty the technique was so well evolved and formulated that even monumental cast iron sta
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