Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties - Publications
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Phylogenetic and Physiologic Characteristics of Fungal Strains Isolated from Traditional Coating Materials Used at Kirishima Shrine
Get PDFMany historic and culturally important objects are at risk of bio-deterioration. Especially, organic materials such as paper, wood and animal glue are often used as traditional materials and are, in general, more easily damaged by microorganisms than
inorganic or artificial materials. In case of the microbial deterioration of wall coating materials with animal glue used at Kirishima Shrine, rapid fungal growth was found over a wide area within a few months after coating.
The aim of this study was to isolate the causative fungal strains and examine their phylogenetic and physiologic characteristics, information of which will contribute to countermeasures for fungal growth on the coating material at Kirishima Shrine.
A total of 133 strains isolated from gofun (oyster shell white)and odo (yellow ochre) by using direct inoculation methods were classified into 11 groups. The phylogenetic and physiologic characteristics of representative strains of each group were analyzed. Representative strains of groups A, B and C were closely related to Acremonium alternatum, Eucasphaeria capensis and Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum, respectively. Representative strains of all groups except for groups C,H and J were capable of hydrolyzing animal glue, which seems to be an important enzymatic activity for physical and chemical deterioration of coating materials with animal glue. On the other hand,groups C and J were able to grow more rapidly on simple glue agar medium than on cornmeal agar medium. These results suggest that groups C and J were also important for the indirect bio-deterioration of the coating materials used at Kirishima Shrine.journal articl
The Expressive World of Early Edo Period Genre Paintings
Get PDFIn the history of Japanese painting, as society changed from a medieval to a pre-modern structure, a taste developed for realistic expression and genre scenes that reflected the interests of the emerging military and wealthy urban classes. The group of works created from the latter half of the 16th century to the first half of the 17th century, and referred to as early pre-modern genre paintings, focused on the depicting of people as they are, their everyday lives and customs. This trend marked a turning point in painterly expression.
On the other hand, the painters and circumstances of very few of these early pre-modern genre paintings are known. The study of these works has relied primarily on comparisons of motifs and painting style, in order to evaluate the works. In genre paintings, all of the major subjects of Japanese painting, whether figures, birds and flowers or landscapes, are depicted either in actual settings or as paintings within paintings. These diverse motifs at times surpass simple stylistic divisions, and thus create problems that hinder the development of an overall study of the group from the study of individual works. However, there are quite a few clear points in common that can be found unexpectedly in otherwise different works. On the other hand, depictions that seem to be similar can in fact reflect decidedly different methods or expression.
The National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo has developed research methods and used these on continuing surveys of large numbers of cultural properties. The Institute has conducted a survey of the National Treasure Hikone Screen (Hikone Castle Museum) as an example of early pre-modern genre paintings and published a report on the study findings. This study clarified the aspects of this work not fully understood by art historical study, such as the detail depiction, characteristics of the expressive style, and the color instructions that speak of the production process. Now our research must continue to develop on the work, in order to answer such questions as, how did these particular expressions and techniques spread, how were they received by collectors and other paintings, and other such matters.
From an awareness of these issues, there is a need to develop a survey study focused on works that resemble both the subject and period of the Hikone Screen. Through a study jointly conducted with The Tokugawa Art Museum, survey studies are progression on pre-modern genre paintings, such as Genre Figures (said to depict the romance between Senhime and her husband Honda Heihachirô, Important Cultural Property, The Tokugawa Art Museum), and Scenes of a Kabuki Performance (Important Cultural Property, The Tokugawa Art Museum). Each of these paintings presents its own depicted world, and the artist chose the appropriate materials and methods to depict their respective scenes. High-definition digital photography confirmed characteristics of their line work, the state of pigment layers, and detailed expression. This process brought all of the characteristics of these works to light, and has thus added valuable material that can set standards for the evaluation of these and other works.journal articl
Preservative Effect of Copper Plates on Wooden Shingles Used for a Traditional Japanese Style Shingle Roof
Get PDFThe preservative effect of copper plates against the decay of wooden shingles used for a traditional style roof was studied. Copper (Cu)plates sheeted under wooden shingles are expected to be a source of Cu elements when the shingles and plates are exposed to rain. Small pieces of shingles were collected as samples from the area where water containing Cu flowed and its neighborhood. Intensity of Cu-Kα on surfaces of the samples was measured with an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Shear strength of the samples,which can be related to the degree of decay,was also assessed. Surface of the samples that showed high intensity of Cu-Kαwas sound,but some of such samples decayed under the surface and showed low shear strength. This suggests that Cu elements spread by rain water covered the surface of the shingles and produced preservative effect on it but could not permeate deep inside the samples. Further experiment should be performed to determine whether Cu is present inside the decay samples.journal articl
On Painting Materials and Apparent Colors of Important Cultural Properties, Genroku Kuniezu and Tempo Kuniezu (Maps in Early Modern Japan)
Get PDFScientific analysis was conducted on painting materials and apparent colors of maps made in Genroku era (1688-1703)and Tempo era (1830-1843)in Japan,Genroku Kuniezu and Tempo Kuniezu,respectively,owned by the National Archives of Japan. Genroku Kuniezu maps were made in each han (estates belonging to daimyo lords in Japan). Tempo Kuniezu maps were made by the Edo shogunate based on rough sketches made in each han.
For each Tempo Kuniezu, two different editions were made, “Momijiyama-hon” for Momijiyama Bunko (library for the shogun)and “Kanjosho-hon”for Kanjosho (the office of finance in the shogunate).
As a result of analysis by XRF and visible reflection spectroscopy, it was found that most of the identified materials are what were common for Japanese paintings at those times, but lead white, which is rarely seen, was detected on a map belonging to Genroku Kuniezu made in Satsuma (now, Kagoshima prefecture).
Analysis of colors based on Lab color space showed that the painted colors of the two editions of Tempo Kuniezu,“Momijiyama-hon”and “Kanjosho-hon,”are apparently different in some points and symbols, including sea, river, road and so on, even though the materials used were almost the same,meaning that the editions were not complete copies and that colors were painted with some intention for each.journal articl
Microbial Growth Tests with Consolidants of Mural Paintings : A Case Study of Bacterial and Yeast Strains Isolated from Kitora Tumulus
Get PDFMicrobial contamination on condsolidants of mural paintings is a serious problem. Growth tests of fungal strains isolated from Takamatsuzuka and Kitora Tumuli on resins used for consolidation of mural paintings have been performed before, spraying fungal spores on pure layers of such resins.
But growth tests with bacterial or yeast strains could not be designed in the same way as they usually need higher water content. This time, growth of such bacterial and yeast strains was investigated in minimal liquid media which contain each of the consolidants as a major carbon source.
As a result, some bacterial strains such as Sphingobium sp., Rhizobium sp., Microbacterium sp., Bacillus thuringiensis, and Stenotrophomonas sp. isolated from Kitora Tumulus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a control strain, were able to grow in media
containing HPC (hydroxyl propyl cellulose) or MC (methyl cellolose) as a major carbon source. But Gluconacetobacter sp., which was thought to have been involved in severe plaster deterioration in Kitora Tumlus,could not grow in media containing HPC or MC as a single carbon source. Most of the yeast strains tested were not able to grow in media with HPC or MC, either. All the tested microbial species, on the other hand, could grow well in media containing animal glue or funori.journal articl
Annual Report on the Inspection of Museum Environment in 2010
Get PDFThe National Research Institute for Cultural Properties,Tokyo,in collaboration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkacho) advises museums on how they should design their facilities to provide adequate environment for the exhibition of nationally designated cultural objects. This report shows some statistical data of museums inspected in 2010.
The number of advice given was 550. Results of inspection were reported to 29 museums for their exhibition.journal articl
