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A rare example of nineteenth-century Rococo-style interior decorations was recently uncovered in the National Military Museum of Cairo, Egypt. Samples of the decorations were analysed using different analytical techniques. The sequence of the paint layers was examined with a digital USB optical microscope. Microstructural examination and microanalysis of the samples were conducted using an environmental scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis spectroscopy (ESEM–EDX). The molecular structure of the samples was analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was applied to identify the mineralogical composition of plaster samples. The results allowed the characterisation of two underlying layers based mainly on two phases of calcium sulphate. Pigment materials of vermilion, red lead, red ochre, hydrocerussite, carbon black and green earth were identified. Several chromatic hues were produced by different proportions of mixed pigments. Additionally, chromatic alterations in the red layer were reported and discussed. Based on the results of the analyses, a multi-step restoration was carried out. The intervention procedures were cleaning, application of injection grouts, removal of old mortars, reconstruction of missing components of the composition and retouching. Finally, a superficial protection layer was applied to the decorations to prevent any future damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims at characterizing some Egyptian wall paintings discovered during the excavations of Cairo University (since 1988 and recently in 2005) at Saqqara area in the south of Cairo. There, a number of tombs dating back to the 19th dynasty (c.1293-1185 BC) were discovered. The walls of these tombs are carved with bass and raised reliefs and painted with different colours. The characterization of the wall paintings was done by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (backscattered electron mode, BSE) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS), micro XRF spectrometry (µ-XRF), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The analysis of the examined samples indicated that the blue pigment is Egyptian blue (Cuprorivaite), the green pigment is Egyptian green, the red pigment is red ochre, and the yellow pigment is a blended layer of yellow ochre and orpiment (As2S3). The results will help in providing an image concerning some painting materials used during the new Kingdom in ancient Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to characterize some Roman plasters from the reign of the Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century AD. These plasters were applied over Pharaonic walls from the reign of Amenhotep III (c.1402-1364 BC) at Luxor temple, Upper Egypt. For the characterization of theses plasters, several analytical techniques were applied such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron mi-croscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD), micro- Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies (µ-Raman and FT--IR). Based on the results of these analyses, the stratigraphic structure of the plaster layers was identified as fine coat 'intonaco' which is based mainly on lime and coarse coat 'arriccio' which consists of silica sand, phases of calcium carbonates and different pozzolanic additives. Moreover, the results revealed the green pigment as green earth (celadonite), the red pigment as red ochre, the yellow pigment as yellow ochre and the white pigment as cal-cium carbonate. The obtained data helped in improving our knowledge of some materials used during the Roman age in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]