Comparative study between four consolidation systems suitable for archaeological bone artefacts

Abstract

This study started with the restoration of a 14th century Italian crosier during the final Master year project at the Institute National du Patrimone in Paris (Palazzo 2014). The characterization and consolidation of the bone materials constituting the crosier was needed due to its poor state of conservation. Several products, both organic polymers and inorganic consolidants applied on artificially altered bone material underwent scientific investigations consisting of several analyses and mechanical tests in order to choose the most suitable for the restoration intervention. The results thus obtained showed that both nanolime and a mix of Paraloid® and calcium phosphate seem to be adequate for treating such objects.