External-beam PIXE analysis of small sculptures

Non-destructive analysis of precious art objects is an important tool to so lve provenance problems or to facilitate restoration. External beam PIXE an alysis is one of the most powerful and popular methods used in this respect . The paper summarises the external beam PIXE set-up at the Accelerator Lab oratory in Budapest, and two selected applications are described. Different parts of a small Cambodian metal sculpture probably made in the 11th centu ry were analysed. It was observed that the sculpture was composed of an iro n core and an outer bronze shell. This sculptural technique was well known in the Middle-East but no indication has been found about its use in the Fa r-East, yet. Before its restoration paint traces on a wooden relief of St. Jerome made by an unknown artist in about 1600 were analysed. Different whi te and red paints were distinguished at selected points and the presence of titanium on a certain part of the relief was attributed to a repainting in modern times. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.