Material Analysis of the Late 19th Century Iron Based Heritage Listed Constructions

Abstract

Abstract The use of iron based materials in building of highly decorated pavilions, rotundas and large constructions reached its zenith in the second half of the 19th century. Over the following century, due to atmospheric corrosion, many of these historical objects disintegrated so badly that they needed urgent attention from conservation. The present study was set up to examine the metallurgical features of two famous buildings — the Palm House in the Botanic Garden in Adelaide, South Australia (S. A.) and the Band Rotunda in Kosice City in Slovakia, allowing some rules for reconstruction to be laid down. In both cases, the ‘iron based’ construction material and ornaments investigated were made in Germany at the end of the 19th century.