Abstract
The aim of this research is to study the deteriorating effect of bees wax, which was a commonly used conservation/restoration material in archaeological wooden artifacts. An experimental study was conducted, in which bees wax applied on pine wood samples and aged by exposure to direct and indirect sunlight during the months of Mai and June in Giza/ Egypt for 50 consecutive days, when the average temperature was + 40˚C during the day. Discs of bees wax were exposed to the same ageing conditions. The surface of all samples was examined using a digital USB microscope, color change was measured and FTIR spectroscopy was conducted to assess the changes that occur in both wood and beeswax, in order to determine the deteriorating effect of wax on wood directly after application and after exposure to direct and indirect sunlight. After obtaining the results from the experimental study, a wooden panel in the museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, which had been mainly treated with bees wax in the past, was chosen for the applied part of this research. The panel was carefully documented before taking the decision to remove previous treatments prior to the retreatment using microcrystalline cellulose and Klucel G.
Highlights
When museums opened to the public in Egypt more than one hundred years ago, it was mainly archaeologists or curators who would treat an artifact to the best of their knowledge
Novel materials and methods, such as gelled systems are used in cases, where wooden objects had been treated with polymers that are difficult to remove with traditional materials
There may not have been a large variety of polymers and gap fillers used at the Islamic Museum of Art in Cairo as in other museums in Egypt, such as the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, where different restoration techniques were applied throughout the decades [40]
Summary
When museums opened to the public in Egypt more than one hundred years ago, it was mainly archaeologists or curators who would treat an artifact to the best of their knowledge. Traditional materials and methods in chemical cleaning include organic solvents, acids and alkalis; and researchers have evaluated their effect on wood components indicating that the degrading effect of polar and nonpolar organic solvents in removing old restorations is minimal. Novel materials and methods, such as gelled systems are used in cases, where wooden objects had been treated with polymers that are difficult to remove with traditional materials. These systems are capable of retaining the liquid compound, which prevent it from spreading and avoid any mechanical stress during the removal process [4]. Any technique has its advantages and disadvantages, which makes it difficult to decide
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