The wooden door in the ex-Abbey of Saint Secondo. Identification of the botanical species
Author(s)
Date Issued
2018
Type
article
Volume
14
Issue
2
Start Page
121
End Page
129
Abstract
A lot of objects with historical and artistic significance in cultural heritage assets are made of wood. This is due not only to the availability of raw material and its easy processing, but also to the natural beauty and durability of wood against biological degradation and weathering. For these characteristics, wood has been widely used for musical instruments, furniture, paintings, sculptures, etc. In this context, the study of wooden doors in historic buildings plays a primary role when the ancient town centres are investigated. The doors can be considered artefacts expressing historical, aesthetic and technological values of historical buildings, revealing at the same time a great durability in regards to the most relevant degradation agents. Their importance, therefore, is crucial in the analysis of historical events and problems related to their conservation. In this contribution, the wooden door of the ex-Abbey of Saint Secondo in Amelia (province of Terni, Italy) has been investigated with the main objective to gather information of its state of conservation to supply information for the restoration process. After restoration, samples from replaced boards were also examined. The investigation was performed through direct observation and analysis of wood micro-samples in the laboratory for characterising the species
Project(s)
Materials characterization in cultural heritage