Researchers from the NU-MRSEC and the Art Institute of Chicago have developed a unique collaboration that seeks to apply scientific expertise to cultural questions. The project is strengthened by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In this project, one of the prize pieces in the Art Institute's collection of Chinese jades was investigated to determine the cause of the very dark coloring (identical pieces unearthed in China are yellowish gray or dark green in color).
The group used Raman micro-spectroscopy and micro-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in order to determine the mineral used in the piece as well as to identify any organics that might be on the surface of the piece. They were able to determine that there was no paint on the piece, eliminating one possible cause of the distinctive color. Samples of similar minerals were subjected to a series of heating studies and the researchers concluded that the piece was most likely submitted to an intense flame. Art historians and Chinese archaeologists provide two theories about why the stone may have been heated: artists may have heated stones to soften them prior to carving, or stones may have been burned as part of ritual ceremonies. It is also possible that some collector along the line might have used Japan wax to make the piece darker and shinier.
The results addresses the unique challenge facing conservation science. Until recently, the care and handling of pieces have rarely been documented, making it difficult to discern the aspects of a piece bestowed by the original artist from changes resulting from collectors and environmental factors. Though it is impossible to provide a decisive answer for a piece such as the jade studied in this project, the scientific analysis, coupled with comparable archaeological data, provides additional insight into the context and provenance of the piece.
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