The Bayeux embroidery: a dust deposition assessment

Pauline Uring (1, 2) , Anne Chabas (1, 2) , Dominique de Reyer (3) , Lucile Gentaz (2, 1) , Sylvain Triquet (1, 2) , Cécile Mirande-Bret (4, 1, 2) , Stéphane Alfaro (1, 2)

1 LISA (UMR_7583) - Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques
2 LISA (UMR_7583) - Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques
3 LRMH - Laboratoire de recherche des monuments historiques
4 LEESU - Laboratoire Eau Environnement et Systèmes Urbains

Particulate matter in the showcase of the Bayeux embroidery was studied for 8 months in order to determine the conservation state of this precious and fragile work of art. Both the suspended and deposited particles were observed, analysed, and quantified. Microclimatic conditions were also monitored. This study presents different methods for the qualification (SEM–EDS and ion chromatography) and quantification (haze, surface coverage, deposition thickness, fibre concentration) of the deposition of particulate matter in such an environment. It allowed the evaluation of the hazard represented by particulate matter for the piece of art and the effectiveness of the measures taken to preserve it, namely air filtration in its over-pressured showcase. The results are very positive, since the PM concentration is very low (ISO 8 regarding the ISO 14644-1 norm) and dust deposition is still negligible after five and a half month.

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement

Pauline Uring, Anne Chabas, Dominique de Reyer, Lucile Gentaz, Sylvain Triquet, et al.. The Bayeux embroidery: a dust deposition assessment. Heritage Science, 2018, 6 (1), pp.23. ⟨10.1186/s40494-018-0190-5⟩. ⟨hal-04568598⟩