Study On Making Processes And Materials Of Painted Lacquer Coffins In Gaoling During Ming Dynasty

In Sep.2011, Institute of Archaeology in Shaanxi Province found Zhang Dong family tombs located in Jing River Industrial Park in Xi’an Gaoling. Zhang Dong was an officer who was in charge of seals in the Palace of Qin prince when he was alive. The exquisite construction of family tombs resembled a small courtyard. The three ancient tombs(M3, M4, M5) formed a Chinese Character-"Pin". There were three painted lacquer coffins(M4-1, M4-4, M5-1) preserved in these unearthed lacquer coffins. The giant lacquer paintings had brilliant colors and artistic designs. In order to protect these lacquer coffins and colorful paintings in a scientific and rational way, it was necessary preparations to analysis making processes and materials. This thesis summarized making technologies of the three painted lacquer coffins systematically by discussing structures and materials of 42 samples, and found the organic pigment-indigotin which was difficult to detect in multiple blue and green points of colord paintings. It was uncommon that indigotin was dectected in the coffins, whereas indigotin was detected in painted lacquer coffins of Zhang Dong family tombs in this paper. The main content is as following:(1) Making process research of painted lacquer coffins in Ming Dynasty excavated in Gao-ling. The study used digital microscopy, observing unadorned and colored sample obtained from lacquer coffins(M4-1, M4-4, M5-1) to give some ideas of making technology of various painted lacquer coffins. Experimental results showed that the making technology of the three colored lac-quer coffins were accordant with what the document records. It was typical making process of ancient lacquer.(2) Pigments analysis research of patined lacquer coffins in Ming Dynasty excavated in Gaoling. Painting materials of the samples in these painted lacquer coffins were tested by multiple techniques such as XRF, XRD,LRM, FTIR,EA, SEM-EDX. The color part materials of lacquer paintings were mainly common minerals such as vermilion, orpiment, white lead and organic pigments such as indigotin which was hard to detect. And it occured that organic pigments are mixed with minerals uncommonly. The organic component such as indigotin in culutral relics was hard to detect, whereas this research provided an effective analysis approaches for painted lacquer coffins and other culutral relics with blue and green pigments.(3) Body materials research of painted lacquer coffins in Ming Dynasty excavated in Gaoling. Body materials of these three painted lacquer coffins were systematically analysed by multiple techniques such as SEM-EDX, FTIR. Experimental results showed that the lacquer film in coffins may have tung-oil and substance with iron may join in some lacquer films. The layer of fibers was hemp material. The coffins were made of cypress, cedar and so on.