Table 2 List of objects and samples investigated and summary of the results obtained from the various techniques applied
Samples | Py(HMDS)–GC–MS | GC–MS | FORS | Raman | DM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Object 1a–f: series of plates (OA2000,0330.5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12)—late twentieth century | |||||
Sample 1_black1: raw black lacquer | Burmese lacquer, triterpenoid resin, lipids | ||||
Sample 1_black2: refined black lacquer | Burmese lacquer | ||||
Sample 1_red: red paint | Burmese lacquer, low lipids, Hg | No proteins No saccharide material Low lipids | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Red particles of different dimensions |
Sample 1_green: green paint | Burmese lacquer, low lipids, traces of proteins, As and S compounds | Proteinsa Saccharide material Low lipids | Phthalocyanine green (CuC32Cl16N8) + phthalocyanine blue (CuC32H16N8) + yellow pigment | Phthalocyanine green (CuC32Cl16N8) + phthalo cyanine blue (CuC32H16N8) + chrome yellow (lead chromate, PbCrO4) | Few yellow and blue particles in a matrix of green particles |
Sample 1_yellow: yellow paint | Burmese lacquer, low lipids, traces of proteins, As and S compounds | Proteinsb No saccharide material Low lipids | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + amorphous arsenic sulfide (AsxSy) | Yellow particles of different size and shape |
Sample 1_black3: final black coating | Well-preserved thitsi | ||||
Object 2: tray (OA1996,0501.50)—1920s | |||||
Sample 2_black: black lacquer | Burmese lacquer, low lipids | ||||
Sample 2_red: red paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, Hg | Proteinsa No saccharide material Lipids | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Red particles of different dimensions |
Sample 2_green: green paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, As and S compounds | Proteinsa Saccharide material Lipids | Hooker’s greenc | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + Prussian blue (iron hexacyaniferrate, C18Fe7N18) | Few yellow and blue particles in a matrix of green particles |
Sample 2_yellow: yellow paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, traces of proteins, As and S compounds | Proteinsa No saccharide material Low lopids | Not conclusive | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + amorphous arsenic sulfide (AsxSy) | Yellow particles |
Sample 2_pink: pink/orange paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, traces of proteins, Hg, As and S compounds | Proteinsb No saccharide material Low lipids | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) + natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + amorphous arsenic sulfide (AsxSy) | Yellow and red particles in a matrix of orange particles |
Object 3: small betel box (OA1998,7-23.140)—early twentieth century | |||||
Sample 3_black: black lacquer | Burmese lacquer, lipids, insecticide | ||||
Sample 3_red: red paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, insecticide, Hg | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Red particles of different dimensions | |
Object 4: bowl (OA1998,7-23.206)—mid/late nineteenth century | |||||
Sample 4_black: black lacquer | Burmese lacquer, lipids, proteins | ||||
Sample 4_red: red paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, Hg | No proteins Saccharide material Lipids | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Red particles of different dimensions |
Sample 4_green: green paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, sugars, As and S compounds | No proteins Saccharide material Lipids | Hooker’s greenc | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + Prussian blue (iron hexacyaniferrate, C18Fe7N18) | Few yellow and blue particles in a matrix of green particles |
Sample 4_yellow: yellow paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, Hg, As and S compounds | No proteins No saccharide material Lipids | Yellow pigment + cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + amorphous arsenic sulfide (AsxSy) + cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Yellow and red particles in an orange matrix |
Object 5: coffer (OA1996,5-1.52)—early nineteenth century or before | |||||
Sample 5_black: black lacquer | Burmese lacquer, lipids | ||||
Sample 5_red: red paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, traces of proteins, sugars, Hg | Proteinsa Saccharide material Low lipids | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Red particles of different dimensions |
Sample 5_green: green paint | Burmese lacquer, lipids, As and S compounds | Not determined aminoacidic fraction No saccharide material Lipids | Hooker’s greenc | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + Prussian blue (iron hexacyaniferrate, C18Fe7N18) | Few yellow and blue particles in a matrix of green particles |
Sample 5_yellow: yellow paint | Burmese lacquer, lipid, Hg, As and S compounds | Not determined aminoacidic fraction No saccharide material Lipids | Yellow pigment + cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Natural orpiment (arsenic trisulfide, As2S3) + amorphous arsenic sulfide (AsxSy) + cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Yellow and red particles in an orange matrix |
Object 6: large box (OA1998,0723.24)—eighteenth century | |||||
Sample 6_black: black lacquer | Burmese lacquer, lipids, proteins | ||||
Sample 6_red: red paint (external part) | Burmese lacquer, lipids, proteins, Hg | Proteinsa No saccharide material Lipids | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Red particles of different dimensions |
Sample 6_orange: orange paint (internal part) | Burmese lacquer, lipids, proteins, phthalates | Proteinsb No saccharide material Lipids | Not conclusive | Cinnabar/vermillion (mercuric sulfide, HgS) | Red particles in an orange matrix |