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René Lalique ▪ Collection of Jewellery

2017 Research

Participation in the research project funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, called: "René Lalique - Materials and techniques of jewellery from the beginning of the 20th c.". The project included performing the following tasks on an ensemble of 28 jewels:

  • Technological study of alloy characterization
    Identification and characterization of metal alloy compositions and manufacturing, decoration and joining techniques
  • Identification and characterization of jewellery polychromy
    Identification and characterization of the decoration techniques used to give color to jewellery: patinas and enamels
  • Corrosion study
    Diagnosis of jewellery with corrosion; Identification of corrosion products; Identification and characterization of the thermo-hygrometric conditions of the exhibition room; Identification of pollutants through accelerated aging tests with metals and materials in the exhibition room - Oddy tests
  • Dissemintion
    Presentation and dissemination of the results achieved in conjunction with the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Participants Archeofactu ~ Research Centre of France Museums ~ Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation ~ University of Lisbon ~ Dias de Sousa 

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/ja/c9ja00028c

Radiograph of the comb Drones and Umbels: joining by screws and rivets.
Ophelia brooch: corrosion products develop preferentially in rough areas.
Peacocks on prunus pendant: corrosion of silver leaves resulting from the presence of cracks in the enamels.
The Rapture pendant: application of silver leaf under the transparent enamel (left); cracks close to plastic and localized temperature deformations: welds and bending areas (right).
Nymph in a Tree pendant: intentional gray-black patina
Dragonfly Woman breastplate: intentional gray-black patina (left); radiograph with marked joints (right).
Diadem X-ray Rooster's Head.
Peacocks on prunus pendant (left); back of the pendant next to the peacock's legs, illustrating the joining of three elements by welding.
X-ray Fluorescence (Titan)
Titan 2
Portable XRF during the analysis (Eclipse).
Eclipse 2