Materials Characterization

The Getty Conservation Institute’s Science department undertakes in-depth studies on specific classes of materials used in cultural heritage to better understand their composition, how to identify them, and to better understand the ways they can change over time. Such studies are needed to enable the development of appropriate analytical protocols, so that full identification can be made of those materials when analyzed from actual objects or works of art.

Our work in this area tends to focus on classes of materials lacking significant study by the conservation field. Recent areas of research have included lacquers, plastics, synthetic paints, waxes, and wood.

As part of this endeavor, reference materials are also collected, characterized with a range of analytical techniques, and added to the GCI Materials Reference Collection.