Preliminary studies for the removal of carbonate deposits from painted ceramics using chemical solutions

Águeda Sáenz-Martínez; Francisco José Collado-Montero; Josefa Capel-Martínez

doi:10.14568/cp26050

Authors

Águeda Sáenz-Martínez Department of Painting and Conservation-Restoration, Faculty of Fine Arts, Complutense University of Madrid, Pintor el Greco Street 2, 28040, Madrid, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5929-7393
Francisco José Collado-Montero Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Granada, Periodista Eugenio Selles Street s/n, 18014, Granada, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7714-2187
Josefa Capel-Martínez Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Granada, Prof. Clavera Street s/n, 18011, Granada, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4092-4975

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14568/cp26050

Keywords:

Cleaning treatments, Archaeological ceramics, Iberian painted decoration, SEM-EDS, Conservation Science

Abstract

This study analyzes the changes that painted archaeological ceramics undergo after direct and indirect cleaning treatments applied to remove carbonate deposits. Nine Iberian decontextualized sherds from the Los Villares de Andújar site (Jaén, Spain) were documented: macroscopic examination, digital photography, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy – energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Lime putty was then applied to the ceramic surfaces to generate the deposits and several cleaning treatments were pursued. Finally, the changes resulting from the cleaning treatments were documented using the same techniques and procedures. The porosity of the sherds had a major influence on the suitability of the cleaning treatments. Nevertheless, treatments with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) disodium salt applied by cellulose pulp poultice were more respectful to painted areas compared to immersion, whereas nitric acid solutions altered both polychromies and ceramic surfaces regardless of the application method. The ion-exchange resin, directly applied, presented promising results in uncolored areas.

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