Characterization of iron-gall inks in historical manuscripts and music compositions using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

• Published in: X-ray spectrometry 2004-07, Vol.33 (4), p.234-239
• Main Authors: Hahn, O., Malzer, W., Kanngiesser, B., Beckhoff, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Spectrometric and optical methods
• ISSN: 0049-8246; 1097-4539
• DOI: 10.1002/xrs.677

The qualitative and quantitative investigation of historical iron‐gall inks using micro‐XRF spectrometry is a suitable method for analyzing composition fingerprints of different ink types. The quantitative analysis is based on a model that takes into account the inhomogeneity and the layer structure of archaeometric samples. Starting from these composition fingerprints, it is possible to characterize distinguishable inks of one artist to classify different chronological ink types and, further, to date unknown fragments that have not so far been integrated into the lifework of an artist. The first qualitative and quantitative investigations of the manuscript ‘Faust I and II’ and of the music composition ‘The Magic Flute’ demonstrate impressively the identification of J. W. v. Goethe's and W. A. Mozart's artistic work with modern scientific methods. Further investigations on A. v. Arnim's manuscript ‘Studien zu Naturwissenschaften’ provide evidence that the diversity of various degradation mechanisms of iron‐gall inks could be mainly caused by different inorganic compositions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.