IDENTIFICATION OF WOOD AND WOOD - BORING INSECTS OF THE ICONS OF BERATI`S MIDDLE - AGE MUSEUM IN ALBANIA: FIRST STEPS OF THEIR RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54652/rsf.2010.v40.i1.154Keywords:
Albania, Anobium punctatum, identification of wood, icons, restoration, conservationAbstract
UDK 674.5:595.7(496.5 Berati)
There are about 350 icons at the deposit of the Middle Age Museum of Berati, among 4500 items of very precious wooden artwork heritage, all over Albania, Actually four of these icons are under restoration process and our first scientific collaboration in this process consisted in identification of wood and wood-boring insects.
The technique used for the anatomic study of the icons wood was the resin inclusion. After chemical treating of small samples in resin (butyl based) and their thermal treating in thermostat (temperature 60ºC for 12 hours), anatomic sections were prepared by microtome. The microscope observations showed that three icons belong to Juglans regia L. (very typical specie of the forests of that area) and only one belongs to Populus sp., probably Populus alba L., because it is the only one specie naturally grown in Osumi valley in the south of Albania.
Accurate observations and measurements have been done for the inspection of wood deterioration, which showed considerable fungi decay and insect damages, especially from Anobium punctatum. The method of vacuum was used for insect disinfection of icons. The process of wood identification is going on for the other icons in the restoration process.
References
BLANCHETTE, R. A., (1995): A guide to wood deterioration caused by microorganisms and insects: The Structural Conservation of Panel Paintings (Proceedings of a symposium at the J. Paul Getty Museum).
BRAVERY, A. E., BERRY R. W., CAREY J. K., COOPER D. E. (1987): Recognizing wood rot and insect damage in buildings. Building Research Establishment, Watford, England.
CHEN, ZH., WHITE M. S., ROBINSON W.H. (2006): Preliminary evaluation of vacuum to control wood-boring insects in raw wood packing materials. Forest Products Journal, Volume 56, No. 7/8.
FIORAVANTI, M., UZIELLI, L., (1992):Il supporto ligneo. La Maestà di Giotto restaurata. Gli Uffizi- studi e ricerche. Firenze.
GIORDANO, G., (1981): Tecnologia del legno, Vol. 1, UTET, Torino.
MARKU, V., XHEKO, B. (1999): Dendrologia, Universiteti Bujqesor, Tirane
MITRUSHI, I. (1966): Druret dhe shkurret e Shqiperise, Instituti Bujqesor, Tirane
NARDI BERTI, R. (2006): La struttura anatomica del legno ed il riconoscimento del legnami italiani di piu corrente impiego, Amorth, Trento.
ROMAGNOLI, SARLATTO, TERRANOVA, BIZZARI, CESETTI (2007): Wood identification in the Cappella Palatina ceiling in Palermo (Sicily, Italy), IAWA volume 28 (2).
Schweingruber, H. F. (1990): Microscopic Wood Anatomy, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest.
UZIELLI, L., CASAZZA, O. (1992): Conservazione dei dipinti su tavola, Nardini, Firenze.
UZIELLI, L., (1995): Historical overview of panel making. Techniques in central Italy. The structural Conservation of Panel Paintings, Proceedings of a symposium at the Getty Museum. Los Angeles.
UZIELLI, L., FIORAVANTI, M. (1999): Il comportamento fisico-meccanico del legno nei dipinti su tavola. Dipinti su tavola-la tecnica e la conservazione dei supporti, Firenze.
WADUM, J. (1995): Historical overview of Panel-Making Techniques in the Northern Countries. The structural Conservation of Panel Paintings, Proceedings of a symposium at the Getty Museum. Los Angeles.
