from New Scientist
The nitrogen the Vikings left behind
go to article
A belated news item on a novel way of detecting buried archaeological sites without digging! By looking at the proportion of nitrogen isotopes in uncultivated plants growing above ground, scientists have recently discovered that the normal nitrogen isotope ratio would be different for those plants growing immediately above the archaeological sites being studied. This could be due to human and/or animal waste products accumulated before the sites were buried. Yet another useful tool in the search for past heritage sites, perhaps.
from The New York Times
Rays and Neutrons, for Art’s Sake
go to article
How nuclear science helped answer questions of provenance, age and authenticity about art. Methods used include some of the most fundamental in nuclear science, such as neutron activation analysis, proton-induced X-ray emission, accelerator mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Check out the The Limestone Sculpture Provenance Project: A Case Study at the MET and the accompanying video on how neutron activation analysis has helped uncover the mystery of an angel fragment.
Rays and Neutrons, for Art’s Sake
go to article
How nuclear science helped answer questions of provenance, age and authenticity about art. Methods used include some of the most fundamental in nuclear science, such as neutron activation analysis, proton-induced X-ray emission, accelerator mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Check out the The Limestone Sculpture Provenance Project: A Case Study at the MET and the accompanying video on how neutron activation analysis has helped uncover the mystery of an angel fragment.
from Ming Bao
Qin Terracotta Warriors under microbiological attack
go to article
Other links about the collection:
go to Wikipedia
go to Travel China Guide
News from a Chinese Paper on how the Qin Terracotta Warriors, one of China's greatest discovered heritage assets in the 20th century and which is dated back to 246 BC, are suffering from the attack of 48 different microscopic organisms.
A professor from Belgium, Paul Stoffels, upon examination and analysis said that the microbiological attack is in 3 main aspects: surface layer of the Warriors, the wall and floor area of the site. There are also damages in the colour and the internal structure of the terracotta figures. Scientists are currently actively seeking solutions to solve this problem.
[Thanks to Francisco Chan from the Museum of Macau who alerted us the news.]
Qin Terracotta Warriors under microbiological attack
go to article
Other links about the collection:
go to Wikipedia
go to Travel China Guide
News from a Chinese Paper on how the Qin Terracotta Warriors, one of China's greatest discovered heritage assets in the 20th century and which is dated back to 246 BC, are suffering from the attack of 48 different microscopic organisms.
A professor from Belgium, Paul Stoffels, upon examination and analysis said that the microbiological attack is in 3 main aspects: surface layer of the Warriors, the wall and floor area of the site. There are also damages in the colour and the internal structure of the terracotta figures. Scientists are currently actively seeking solutions to solve this problem.
[Thanks to Francisco Chan from the Museum of Macau who alerted us the news.]
from New York Times
Swimming With Famous Dead Sharks
go to article
Finally, the restoration of Hirst's infamous work had gotten underway - and at the behest and expense of the collector who bought the work. As the "original" shark had deteriorated very badly due to an incorrect method used initially, the restored work would be using a replacement specimen.
Swimming With Famous Dead Sharks
go to article
Finally, the restoration of Hirst's infamous work had gotten underway - and at the behest and expense of the collector who bought the work. As the "original" shark had deteriorated very badly due to an incorrect method used initially, the restored work would be using a replacement specimen.
Mr. Hirst acknowledges that once the shark is replaced, art historians will argue that the piece cannot be considered the same artwork. "“It'’s a big dilemma," he said. "“Artists and conservators have different opinions about what's important: the original artwork or the original intention. I come from a Conceptual art background, so I think it should be the intention. It'’s the same piece. But the jury will be out for a long time to come."’See earlier posts here and here.
from Toronto Star
Pirouette preservation
go to article
Preservation is an act which seeks to negate or slow the effects of time. However, when it comes to cultural expressions which embraces the dimension of time itself - as in a dance performance - then, preservation of such (intangible) art-forms becomes a challenge.
Pirouette preservation
go to article
Preservation is an act which seeks to negate or slow the effects of time. However, when it comes to cultural expressions which embraces the dimension of time itself - as in a dance performance - then, preservation of such (intangible) art-forms becomes a challenge.
from The Art Newspaper
Bill Gates’ Leonardo notebook withdrawn from exhibition
go to article
An unusal turn of events in which a world-renow museum is seen to be less cautious about protecting artefacts from light damage than a concerned collector, and none other than Bill Gates himself.
Bill Gates’ Leonardo notebook withdrawn from exhibition
go to article
An unusal turn of events in which a world-renow museum is seen to be less cautious about protecting artefacts from light damage than a concerned collector, and none other than Bill Gates himself.
from CBC
Acropolis museum on sched for 2007 opening
go to article
Another development ratcheting up the debate around the question: "Should the Elgin Marbles be returned?" (See earlier posts here, here and here.)
Acropolis museum on sched for 2007 opening
go to article
Another development ratcheting up the debate around the question: "Should the Elgin Marbles be returned?" (See earlier posts here, here and here.)
from The Guardian
Canterbury's miracle
go to article (2nd October 2006)
from BBC News
Crumbling cathedral 'needs £50m'
go to article (3rd October 2006)
from International Herald Tribune
Britain's Canterbury Cathedral appeals for funds for repairs
go to article (3rd October 2006)
from Christian Today
£50m Needed to Save Canterbury Cathedral
go to article (5th October 2006)
from Episcopal News Service
Global fundraising campaign launched to save Canterbury Cathedral
go to article (9th October 2006)
Save Canterbury Cathedral Fundraising
go to web-site
Having spent some time in Canterbury in my younger days, I recall going around and looking at some of the diverse range of conservation and restoration works already happening there some 15 years ago.
It seems that the biggest threat facing such a historical monument comes not from the passage of time, but rather from an overwhelming number of visitors - both tourists and pilgrims. This could indeed be a case study of how and why heritage tourism might not be a sustainable solution for the long-term preservation of historic sites or monuments.
Canterbury's miracle
go to article (2nd October 2006)
from BBC News
Crumbling cathedral 'needs £50m'
go to article (3rd October 2006)
from International Herald Tribune
Britain's Canterbury Cathedral appeals for funds for repairs
go to article (3rd October 2006)
from Christian Today
£50m Needed to Save Canterbury Cathedral
go to article (5th October 2006)
from Episcopal News Service
Global fundraising campaign launched to save Canterbury Cathedral
go to article (9th October 2006)
Save Canterbury Cathedral Fundraising
go to web-site
Having spent some time in Canterbury in my younger days, I recall going around and looking at some of the diverse range of conservation and restoration works already happening there some 15 years ago.
It seems that the biggest threat facing such a historical monument comes not from the passage of time, but rather from an overwhelming number of visitors - both tourists and pilgrims. This could indeed be a case study of how and why heritage tourism might not be a sustainable solution for the long-term preservation of historic sites or monuments.
From Guardian Unlimited
Software that reveals which paintings are authentic
go to article
A software that helps to authenticate paintings through matching the characteristics of the painting under question to its library of characteristics for that particular artist, such as brushstrokes, colours and type of canvas used etc. The developer of the software said the technique was not designed to replace the opinions of art historians but is meant as a tool to help them reach a decision.
Guess the success of the software as a tool would hinge on building up a representative repertoire of works of individual artists. This task is tremendous when you think of how certain masters have different styles in different phases of their art practice!
Software that reveals which paintings are authentic
go to article
A software that helps to authenticate paintings through matching the characteristics of the painting under question to its library of characteristics for that particular artist, such as brushstrokes, colours and type of canvas used etc. The developer of the software said the technique was not designed to replace the opinions of art historians but is meant as a tool to help them reach a decision.
Guess the success of the software as a tool would hinge on building up a representative repertoire of works of individual artists. This task is tremendous when you think of how certain masters have different styles in different phases of their art practice!
Singapore Heritage Mailing List
go to web-page
Re-posting the following announcement and would like to encourage readers of this weblog to join in the diverse and insightful discussions over at the mailing list.
go to web-page
Re-posting the following announcement and would like to encourage readers of this weblog to join in the diverse and insightful discussions over at the mailing list.
On 10/10/06 12:18 PM, "Chua Ai Lin" wrote:
Dear list members,
Today is the 6th anniversary of the Singapore Heritage Yahoogroup!
At this point last year, there were 267 registered subscribers, and now we have 461. In the past year, the number of postings each month have varied between 121 and 276.
If you have friends who would like to join the list too, do tell them that one does not need a Yahoo email address to receive messages, simply send a blank email to:
singaporeheritage-subscribe[at]yahoogroups.com
It's great to see more and more of you sharing on the list, and here's to more interesting discussions in the coming year!
--Ai Lin
Sg-Heritage Yahoogroup moderator
from New York Times
New Look at '‘Mona Lisa'’ Yields Some New Secrets
go to article
from The Guardian
High-res 3D scan helps scientists uncover Mona Lisa's secrets
go to article
A couple of overlapping articles looking at the technical examination of the famed masterpiece, using infra-red imaging to look at alterations, as well as laser scanner to record minute paint surface topology.
New Look at '‘Mona Lisa'’ Yields Some New Secrets
go to article
from The Guardian
High-res 3D scan helps scientists uncover Mona Lisa's secrets
go to article
A couple of overlapping articles looking at the technical examination of the famed masterpiece, using infra-red imaging to look at alterations, as well as laser scanner to record minute paint surface topology.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
