HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-14DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020047
E. Cantisani, Nicola Salvioli, Barbara Salvadori
{"title":"Polychrome Bronze Sculpture: A Multi-Analytical Approach to Unveil the Renaissance Gilded Eagles in the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, Florence","authors":"E. Cantisani, Nicola Salvioli, Barbara Salvadori","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020047","url":null,"abstract":"The gilded bronze eagles that stand upon the summit of the Tabernacle by Michelozzo in the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, Florence (Italy) are an exquisite example of Italian Renaissance sculpture. Commissioned by Piero di Cosimo de Medici, the two eagles, representing the ancient Arte di Calimala, were cast and decorated by Maso di Bartolomeo in the 1448–1449 period. A multi-analytical approach was set up to characterize the state of conservation, materials used, and artistic technique of the eagles. Non-invasive methods were used and integrated with micro-invasive analyses, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry on powders (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with EDS (SEM-EDS), and metallographic investigation. The results depict shiny-looking eagles, suggesting the use of oil gilding on almost all surfaces and revealing the presence of polychromies, which is almost unusual in XV-century bronze statuary and is initially hidden by deposits and corrosion products. Indeed, the paws were originally painted with azurite, while the use of cinnabar imparted a vivid red color to the tongue. A black paint containing mercury was found on the eyes and talons. The bales of cloth were decorated with silver, which is now almost completely lost and whose remains are not visible due to being tarnished, while fine details in gold were detected on the lanyard.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"30 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139777370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-14DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020047
E. Cantisani, Nicola Salvioli, Barbara Salvadori
{"title":"Polychrome Bronze Sculpture: A Multi-Analytical Approach to Unveil the Renaissance Gilded Eagles in the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, Florence","authors":"E. Cantisani, Nicola Salvioli, Barbara Salvadori","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020047","url":null,"abstract":"The gilded bronze eagles that stand upon the summit of the Tabernacle by Michelozzo in the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, Florence (Italy) are an exquisite example of Italian Renaissance sculpture. Commissioned by Piero di Cosimo de Medici, the two eagles, representing the ancient Arte di Calimala, were cast and decorated by Maso di Bartolomeo in the 1448–1449 period. A multi-analytical approach was set up to characterize the state of conservation, materials used, and artistic technique of the eagles. Non-invasive methods were used and integrated with micro-invasive analyses, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry on powders (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with EDS (SEM-EDS), and metallographic investigation. The results depict shiny-looking eagles, suggesting the use of oil gilding on almost all surfaces and revealing the presence of polychromies, which is almost unusual in XV-century bronze statuary and is initially hidden by deposits and corrosion products. Indeed, the paws were originally painted with azurite, while the use of cinnabar imparted a vivid red color to the tongue. A black paint containing mercury was found on the eyes and talons. The bales of cloth were decorated with silver, which is now almost completely lost and whose remains are not visible due to being tarnished, while fine details in gold were detected on the lanyard.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"528 18","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139836834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-12DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020046
Chandra L. Reedy
{"title":"The Disappearing Technology and Products of Traditional Tibetan Village Blacksmiths","authors":"Chandra L. Reedy","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020046","url":null,"abstract":"Tibetans have a long history of iron mining, smelting, and forging. For centuries, craftsmen in major cities and large iron production centers made high-quality swords and suits of armor, as well as decorative iron ritual objects for monasteries and the elites, but blacksmithing workshops in small villages have always produced and repaired everyday objects for agricultural and home use. Modern political changes, along with greater availability of industrial objects in local markets, have greatly reduced the rank of the village blacksmith. Ethnographic fieldwork reported here from two Tibetan Bön villages in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, China (once part of traditional Amdo area of Tibet), highlights some of the threats to the continued existence of village blacksmiths. Both a part-time blacksmith in one village and a full-time blacksmith in another make only a marginal living from their work. Their descendants are unlikely to continue the business. Many of the village blacksmiths in the area have already stopped production and closed their workshops. It is likely that the village blacksmith tradition might soon disappear altogether in this region of the world without support. Preservation of this tradition could benefit both cultural and environmental sustainability goals.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"180 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139843176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-12DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020046
Chandra L. Reedy
{"title":"The Disappearing Technology and Products of Traditional Tibetan Village Blacksmiths","authors":"Chandra L. Reedy","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020046","url":null,"abstract":"Tibetans have a long history of iron mining, smelting, and forging. For centuries, craftsmen in major cities and large iron production centers made high-quality swords and suits of armor, as well as decorative iron ritual objects for monasteries and the elites, but blacksmithing workshops in small villages have always produced and repaired everyday objects for agricultural and home use. Modern political changes, along with greater availability of industrial objects in local markets, have greatly reduced the rank of the village blacksmith. Ethnographic fieldwork reported here from two Tibetan Bön villages in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, China (once part of traditional Amdo area of Tibet), highlights some of the threats to the continued existence of village blacksmiths. Both a part-time blacksmith in one village and a full-time blacksmith in another make only a marginal living from their work. Their descendants are unlikely to continue the business. Many of the village blacksmiths in the area have already stopped production and closed their workshops. It is likely that the village blacksmith tradition might soon disappear altogether in this region of the world without support. Preservation of this tradition could benefit both cultural and environmental sustainability goals.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"10 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139783189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-12DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020045
Joris Van Doorsselaere
{"title":"Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions on the Use of Heritage in Secondary Education and Their Reception of Educational Materials from the Heritage and Museum Sector: A Case Study in Flanders (Belgium)","authors":"Joris Van Doorsselaere","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020045","url":null,"abstract":"There has been a growing policy interest in establishing connections between heritage and education. Nevertheless, there seems to be very little evaluation or critical reflection on what actually happens in practice, and it remains unclear how heritage education is employed in countries throughout Europe. The aim of this paper is to assess the current status of heritage education in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium) via a literature review and an exploratory case study. The perceptions and opinions of pre-service teachers (n = 17) were investigated using three instruments: a questionnaire, document analysis, and the think aloud method. The results show that the pre-service teachers had a traditional interpretation of heritage, mainly relying on well-known and monumental examples and following a rather historical–artistic conception. However, it was found that their opinions were positive towards the use of heritage as an educational resource, and their evaluations of educational materials from the heritage and museum sector provided detailed information concerning teachers’ desires and needs in this regard. The implications of this study should encourage initial teacher training in Flanders to further consider the epistemological and methodological challenges in the emerging field of heritage education.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"86 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139843944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-12DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020045
Joris Van Doorsselaere
{"title":"Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions on the Use of Heritage in Secondary Education and Their Reception of Educational Materials from the Heritage and Museum Sector: A Case Study in Flanders (Belgium)","authors":"Joris Van Doorsselaere","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020045","url":null,"abstract":"There has been a growing policy interest in establishing connections between heritage and education. Nevertheless, there seems to be very little evaluation or critical reflection on what actually happens in practice, and it remains unclear how heritage education is employed in countries throughout Europe. The aim of this paper is to assess the current status of heritage education in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium) via a literature review and an exploratory case study. The perceptions and opinions of pre-service teachers (n = 17) were investigated using three instruments: a questionnaire, document analysis, and the think aloud method. The results show that the pre-service teachers had a traditional interpretation of heritage, mainly relying on well-known and monumental examples and following a rather historical–artistic conception. However, it was found that their opinions were positive towards the use of heritage as an educational resource, and their evaluations of educational materials from the heritage and museum sector provided detailed information concerning teachers’ desires and needs in this regard. The implications of this study should encourage initial teacher training in Flanders to further consider the epistemological and methodological challenges in the emerging field of heritage education.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139783853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-11DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020044
A. Spreafico, F. Chiabrando
{"title":"3D WebGIS for Ephemeral Architecture Documentation and Studies in the Humanities","authors":"A. Spreafico, F. Chiabrando","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020044","url":null,"abstract":"The documentation and visualization of ephemeral CH, especially for World’s Fairs architecture, remains a neglected endeavor on the global scale. While digital products like 3D models find extensive application in CH, the use of a WebGIS has scarcely been explored in this domain. When a WebGIS is used for CH, it serves to communicate the output of research, not as a tool to support the development of the research itself. Moreover, aspects like procedural development for the creation of a WebGIS platform, its upgrading, and its long-term preservation are key factors for the maintenance of the digital tool, but they have scarcely been considered in the literature. Through the Turin 1911 project, this paper defines a procedure for the creation of a WebGIS for ephemeral architectural documentation, showing how a WebGIS platform can be designed, implemented, tested, and maintained. The novelty of this study lies in the creation of a 2D/3D WebGIS based on a tailored spatial database; the WebGIS is coupled with a dedicated website for the constant updating of the research data documenting the Turin 1911 International Exposition. The discussion emphasizes the transformative role of a WebGIS in not only sharing information but also serving as a dynamic platform for conducting digital humanities studies in 3D environments.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"37 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139845133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-11DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020043
M. P. Lapuente Mercadal, J. A. Cuchí Oterino, Luis Francisco Auqué Sanz
{"title":"Compatibility Assessment in the Replacement of Damaged Sandstone Used in the Cathedral of Huesca (Spain)","authors":"M. P. Lapuente Mercadal, J. A. Cuchí Oterino, Luis Francisco Auqué Sanz","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020043","url":null,"abstract":"In order to manage problems arising from rainwater/rock interaction in Miocene sandstones (calcareous litharenites) widely used in various monuments of the Ebro Valley (NE of Spain), a survey has been conducted with particular application to the building and architectural decorative materials of the Cathedral of Huesca. Once the current state of decay was diagnosed and the processes of alteration (enhanced by certain intrinsic factors and their particular exposure to the environmental conditions) were detected, a pre-restoration experimental assay was conducted. On the one hand, to propose the best stone replacement, this study evaluates the compatibility of the available sandstones in the local market based on their intrinsic features, especially those related to hydric behaviour. Once the most suitable sandstone was selected, pore size distributions were determined along with accelerated ageing cycles to show the importance of selecting properly the potential replacement sandstone. In a second step, to determine the effectiveness and long-term efficacy of four water-repellent products, several on-site and laboratory tests were performed. From the experimental results obtained, remedial works have been proposed which will be useful not only for the restoration programme of this monument, but also for other emblematic architectural Heritage in the Ebro Valley.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"111 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139845335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-11DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020044
A. Spreafico, F. Chiabrando
{"title":"3D WebGIS for Ephemeral Architecture Documentation and Studies in the Humanities","authors":"A. Spreafico, F. Chiabrando","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020044","url":null,"abstract":"The documentation and visualization of ephemeral CH, especially for World’s Fairs architecture, remains a neglected endeavor on the global scale. While digital products like 3D models find extensive application in CH, the use of a WebGIS has scarcely been explored in this domain. When a WebGIS is used for CH, it serves to communicate the output of research, not as a tool to support the development of the research itself. Moreover, aspects like procedural development for the creation of a WebGIS platform, its upgrading, and its long-term preservation are key factors for the maintenance of the digital tool, but they have scarcely been considered in the literature. Through the Turin 1911 project, this paper defines a procedure for the creation of a WebGIS for ephemeral architectural documentation, showing how a WebGIS platform can be designed, implemented, tested, and maintained. The novelty of this study lies in the creation of a 2D/3D WebGIS based on a tailored spatial database; the WebGIS is coupled with a dedicated website for the constant updating of the research data documenting the Turin 1911 International Exposition. The discussion emphasizes the transformative role of a WebGIS in not only sharing information but also serving as a dynamic platform for conducting digital humanities studies in 3D environments.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"107 43","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139785471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HeritagePub Date : 2024-02-11DOI: 10.3390/heritage7020043
M. P. Lapuente Mercadal, J. A. Cuchí Oterino, Luis Francisco Auqué Sanz
{"title":"Compatibility Assessment in the Replacement of Damaged Sandstone Used in the Cathedral of Huesca (Spain)","authors":"M. P. Lapuente Mercadal, J. A. Cuchí Oterino, Luis Francisco Auqué Sanz","doi":"10.3390/heritage7020043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020043","url":null,"abstract":"In order to manage problems arising from rainwater/rock interaction in Miocene sandstones (calcareous litharenites) widely used in various monuments of the Ebro Valley (NE of Spain), a survey has been conducted with particular application to the building and architectural decorative materials of the Cathedral of Huesca. Once the current state of decay was diagnosed and the processes of alteration (enhanced by certain intrinsic factors and their particular exposure to the environmental conditions) were detected, a pre-restoration experimental assay was conducted. On the one hand, to propose the best stone replacement, this study evaluates the compatibility of the available sandstones in the local market based on their intrinsic features, especially those related to hydric behaviour. Once the most suitable sandstone was selected, pore size distributions were determined along with accelerated ageing cycles to show the importance of selecting properly the potential replacement sandstone. In a second step, to determine the effectiveness and long-term efficacy of four water-repellent products, several on-site and laboratory tests were performed. From the experimental results obtained, remedial works have been proposed which will be useful not only for the restoration programme of this monument, but also for other emblematic architectural Heritage in the Ebro Valley.","PeriodicalId":507444,"journal":{"name":"Heritage","volume":"109 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139785348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}