Abstract
Restoration and conservation procedures for historical musical instruments involve several issues, also connected with their frequent being played. One of the most delicate procedures for their preservation is the cleaning of surfaces from soil and dirt which have accumulated over the years. In fact, when external particles reach the surface, a fraction of them can deposit on it. Moreover, the contact with the player can generate chemical-physical changes, rapidly warming and wetting the surfaces through sweat deposition. This work focused on the cleaning methods of surfaces of bowed string musical instruments by a systematic and analytical approach. The selective cleaning procedure of varnished surfaces from grime and soil needs to be performed without compromising the original matter. Therefore, a dirty surface was reproduced on a set of varnished mock-ups and different water-based cleaning systems—generally used by restorers—were tested. The procedures were monitored in each step with several analytical methods: multispectral imaging (near-infrared (NIR), IRFC, visible imaging (VIS), UV-induced visible fluorescence), stereomicroscopy, XRF and FTIR spectroscopies allowed us to non-invasively outline the cleaning system efficacy. The results highlighted different levels of cleaning and, in some cases, it was possible to identify the best selectivity for the different procedures.
Highlights
One of the most usual—as well as delicate—procedures for the preservation of ancient musical instruments is the cleaning of surfaces from layers of deposited soiling
Dirt accumulation on the musical instrument depends on different factors, such as the climatic conditions, the presence of pollutants in the environment where the instrument is conserved or played, the dirt particle size, or the varnish surface roughness and its state of conservation [3]
We proposed a set of non-invasive analyses that can be performed during the conservation treatment in order to monitor the artifact surface cleaning
Summary
One of the most usual—as well as delicate—procedures for the preservation of ancient musical instruments is the cleaning of surfaces from layers of deposited soiling. Pollution and other atmospheric chemical compounds should never deposit on historical artifacts [1,2] When it occurs, their removal is highly recommended, in order to help re-establish the original surface status and to minimize the risk of the soiling embedding within the varnish layer. Dirt accumulation on the musical instrument depends on different factors, such as the climatic conditions, the presence of pollutants in the environment where the instrument is conserved or played, the dirt particle size, or the varnish surface roughness and its state of conservation [3]. The contact with the player may prompt dirt deposition and adhesion on the surface, since the instrument is exposed to warm and wet conditions during hours-long practice and performance [4]
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