Scientific Research on the Sculptural Arts of Asia

This volume, the third in the Forbes Symposium series, presents scientific research on the sculptural arts of Asia, exploring materials, techniques, and conservation concerns. Case studies include Southeast Asian jade, Chinese bronzes, Mongolian deer stones, and Japanese polychrome sculpture. Through analytical approaches, contributors uncover insights into the origins, fabrication, and preservation of these works. Published in association with the Freer Gallery of Art and Archetype Publications, it continues a series dedicated to advancing the scientific study of Asian art.

Throughout Asia’s history, sculptural arts have encompassed a variety of processes, including carving, modeling, casting, and assembling. Scientific investigations presented in this volume include studies of Southeast Asian jade, Chinese bronzes, Mongolian deer stones, Japanese polychrome sculpture, and others. Scientific study of sculpture helps us learn more about why, where, and how thse works were made as well as address concerns about the state of their preservation and conservation. This volume is the third in a series of Forbes Symposium proceedings. The first title, Scientific Research in the Field of Asian Art, edited by Paul Jett with Janet G. Douglas, Blythe McCarthy, and John Winter, was published in 2003; the second, Scientific Research on the Pictorial Arts of Asia, edited by Paul Jett, John Winter, and Blythe McCarthy, was published in 2005. All three volumes are published by Archetype Publications in association with the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution. Proceedings of the third Forbes Symposium at the Freer Gallery of Art

ForewordAcknowledgementsList of contributorsIntroductionJade and jade-working methodsA stone kneeling figure in the Art Institute of Chicago: new evidence from scientific investigations and archaeological finds in ChinaFrancesca Casadio, Jay Xu, Elinor Pearlstein, Katherine T. Faber, Ariel Knowles, and Jing ZhichunA noninvasive mineralogical study of nephrite artifacts from the Philippines and surroundings: the distribution of Taiwan nephrite and implications for island Southeast Asian archaeologyYoshiyuki Iizuka, Hung Hsiao-Chun, and Peter BellwoodThe introduction of rotary incising wheels for working jade in ChinaMargaret Sax, Nigel D. Meeks, Janet Ambers, and Carol MichaelsonA transfer of technology: jade abrasive methods used to create inscriptions in ancient Chinese bronzesDonna Strahan and Mark FennBronze, iron and precious metalsTechnical studies of Proto-Zhou and early Western Zhou bronze vessels excavated in Guanzhong, Shaanxi province, ChinaYang Junchang and Han RubinLarge cast-iron artifacts in ancient China from the seventh century onward: technology and conservationHan Rubin and Li XiuhuiTechnical study and elemental analysis of Chinese gold from the late Eastern Zhou periodPaul Jett, Lynn Brostoff, and Laure DussubieuxElemental composition of Sri Lankan bronzes: technological style and changeChandra L. Reedy and Sherry Harlacher The bronzes of the south of India: a continuing tradition?Paul Craddock and Duncan HookCasting compassion: the technical study of a large Bronze from TibetAbigail Hykin, Richard Newman, and Joan CumminsEarth-based materialsNew methods for analyzing thin sections of casting core materials: a case study with Southeast Asian bronzesChandra L. Reedy and Pieter MeyersMineralogical characteristics of Khmer stone sculpture in the Bayon styleJanet G. Douglas and Sorena S. SorensenTibetan Buddhist clay figures: a technical examinationLisa Sertic and Louise BaconAnalysis and replicationDocumenting Mongolia's deer stones: application of three-dimensional digital imaging technology to preservationHarriet F. Beaubien, Basiliki Vicky Karas, and William W. FitzhughThe scientific study, conservation, and reproduction of a sacred lion maskYasunori Matsuda, Shinichiro Tagawa, Takao Makino, and Miho TeshirogiAnalysis of inlays on Japanese netsuke using Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and visual examination techniquesOdile Madden, Christine Drosse, Ashley Johnson, and Marc WaltonPolychromy and woodNondestructive investigation of the polychromy of Japanese sculpturesYasuhiro Hayakawa, Tetsuei Tsuda, and Sadatoshi MiuraSurface decoration on the limestone sculptures from Qingzhou, Shandong province, ChinaJohn WinterPolychrome decoration on Far Eastern gilt bronze sculpture of the eighth centuryJohn TwilleyExamination and analysis of the Chinese polychrome sculptures in the collection of the Royal Ontario MuseumMarianne Webb, Elizabeth Moffatt, Marie-Claude Corbeil, and Nicolas DuxinThe study of Buddhist sculptures from Japan and China based on wood identificationMechtild Mertz and Takeo ItohChinese Buddhist wood sculptures of Water-Moon Guanyin: a preliminary research in their wood construction and materialPetra H. Rosch,

Foreword

Acknowledgements

List of contributors

Introduction

Jade and jade-working methods

A stone kneeling figure in the Art Institute of Chicago: new evidence from scientific investigations and archaeological finds in China

Francesca Casadio, Jay Xu, Elinor Pearlstein, Katherine T. Faber, Ariel Knowles, and Jing Zhichun

A noninvasive mineralogical study of nephrite artifacts from the Philippines and surroundings: the distribution of Taiwan nephrite and implications for island Southeast Asian archaeology

Yoshiyuki Iizuka, Hung Hsiao-Chun, and Peter Bellwood

The introduction of rotary incising wheels for working jade in China

Margaret Sax, Nigel D. Meeks, Janet Ambers, and Carol Michaelson

A transfer of technology: jade abrasive methods used to create inscriptions in ancient Chinese bronzes

Donna Strahan and Mark Fenn

Bronze, iron and precious metals

Technical studies of Proto-Zhou and early Western Zhou bronze vessels excavated in Guanzhong, Shaanxi province, China

Yang Junchang and Han Rubin

Large cast-iron artifacts in ancient China from the seventh century onward: technology and conservation

Han Rubin and Li Xiuhui

Technical study and elemental analysis of Chinese gold from the late Eastern Zhou period

Paul Jett, Lynn Brostoff, and Laure Dussubieux

Elemental composition of Sri Lankan bronzes: technological style and change

Chandra L. Reedy and Sherry Harlacher

The bronzes of the south of India: a continuing tradition?

Paul Craddock and Duncan Hook

Casting compassion: the technical study of a large Bronze from Tibet

Abigail Hykin, Richard Newman, and Joan Cummins

Earth-based materials

New methods for analyzing thin sections of casting core materials: a case study with Southeast Asian bronzes

Chandra L. Reedy and Pieter Meyers

Mineralogical characteristics of Khmer stone sculpture in the Bayon style

Janet G. Douglas and Sorena S. Sorensen

Tibetan Buddhist clay figures: a technical examination

Lisa Sertic and Louise Bacon

Analysis and replication

Documenting Mongolia's deer stones: application of three-dimensional digital imaging technology to preservation

Harriet F. Beaubien, Basiliki Vicky Karas, and William W. Fitzhugh

The scientific study, conservation, and reproduction of a sacred lion mask

Yasunori Matsuda, Shinichiro Tagawa, Takao Makino, and Miho Teshirogi

Analysis of inlays on Japanese netsuke using Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and visual examination techniques

Odile Madden, Christine Drosse, Ashley Johnson, and Marc Walton

Polychromy and wood

Nondestructive investigation of the polychromy of Japanese sculptures

Yasuhiro Hayakawa, Tetsuei Tsuda, and Sadatoshi Miura

Surface decoration on the limestone sculptures from Qingzhou, Shandong province, China

John Winter

Polychrome decoration on Far Eastern gilt bronze sculpture of the eighth century

John Twilley

Examination and analysis of the Chinese polychrome sculptures in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum

Marianne Webb, Elizabeth Moffatt, Marie-Claude Corbeil, and Nicolas Duxin

The study of Buddhist sculptures from Japan and China based on wood identification

Mechtild Mertz and Takeo Itoh

Chinese Buddhist wood sculptures of Water-Moon Guanyin: a preliminary research in their wood construction and material

Petra H. Rösch

• Edited by Janet G. Douglas
• Edited by Paul Jett
• Edited by John Winter