Browsing by Author "Bordalo, Rui"
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- Art casting in Portuguese 19th century industrial foundries: a multi-analytical study of an emblematic copper-based alloy monumentPublication . General-Toro, Pablo; Bordalo, Rui; Moreira, Patrícia Raquel; Vieira, Eduarda; Brunetti, Antonio; Iannaccone, Roberta; Bottaini, CarloThe outdoor sculpture of the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques (~1109 – 1185 AD), placed in Guimarães (North Portugal) is one of the most emblematic national sculptures. Created in 1887 by António Soares dos Reis, it possesses a remarkable symbolic value in the presumed birthplace of the king. In addition to the artistic and heritage importance of the monument, it is one of the few sculptures cast by a Portuguese industrial foundry in the 19th-century. This study obtained data on the sculpture's elemental composition and corrosion products, gathering important historical and technical information. For this purpose, a multi-analytical approach consisting of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) was carried out to characterise the bulk metal and corrosion layers. The data revealed a ternary alloy of Cu, Sn, Zn with Pb, Fe, As, Bi and Mn as minor elements. The alloy matches that of other sculptures cast in that period. In terms of corrosion, it is characterised by the presence of oxides. These results represent the first step for applying an appropriate conservation strategy for bronze sculptures with similar characteristics.
- Art casting in portuguese 19th century industrial foundries: a multi-analytical study of an emblematic copper-based alloy monumentPublication . General-Toro, Pablo; Bordalo, Rui; Moreira, Patrícia Raquel; Vieira, Eduarda; Brunetti, Antonio; Iannaccone, Roberta; Bottaini, CarloThe outdoor sculpture of the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques (c. 1109–1185 AD), placed in Guimarães (North Portugal), is one of the most emblematic national sculptures. Created in 1887 by António Soares dos Reis, it possesses a remarkable symbolic value in the presumed birthplace of the king. In addition to the artistic and heritage importance of the monument, it is one of the few sculptures cast by a Portuguese industrial foundry in the 19th century. This study obtained data on the sculpture’s elemental composition and corrosion products, gathering important historical and technical information. For this purpose, a multi-analytical approach consisting of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) was carried out to characterise the bulk metal and corrosion layers. The data revealed a ternary alloy of Cu, Sn and Zn, with Pb, Fe, As, Bi and Mn as minor elements. The alloy matches that of other sculptures cast in that period. In terms of corrosion, it is characterised by the presence of oxides. These results represent the first step for applying an appropriate conservation strategy for bronze sculptures with similar characteristics.
- Available green conservation methodologies for the cleaning of cultural heritage: an overviewPublication . Gueidão, Marta; Vieira, Eduarda; Bordalo, Rui; Moreira, PatríciaThe introduction of new guidelines and regulations on chemical production, use, treatment or disposal demanded the development of greener alternatives to conventional products and methodologies. This review briefly presents some of the most promising innovative systems applied in the cleaning of cultural heritage – lasers, green solvents, microemulsions or micellar solutions, bacterial cells or enzymes, ionic liquids and gels. Their advantages and drawbacks are discussed, along with further improvements.
- Bituminous waterproofing mortar applied on masonry walls of 19th and 20th century buildings in Porto: an analytical study in the context of urban building rehabilitationPublication . Lier-Klüge, Andrea; Vieira, Eduarda; Guedes, João Miranda; Ferreira, Cláudia; Frade, José Carlos; Bordalo, RuiBituminous mortars characterize the traditional buildings of the city of Porto and northern Portugal, especially those built between the end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century. This article aims to determine the composition of this bituminous mortar through an analytical study by micro-FTIR and Py-GS/MS, and to assert experimentally its effectiveness as a waterproofing material though a series of tests including capillary tests, saturation content and water permeability. The present study is still a starting point for a more in-depth study on this subject, but the present investigation constitutes a further step in the characterisation of the constitution and function of bituminous mortar.
- Computer vision-based wood identification: a reviewPublication . Silva, José Luís; Bordalo, Rui; Pissarra, José; Palacios, Paloma deWood identification is an important tool in many areas, from biology to cultural heritage. In the fight against illegal logging, it has a more necessary and impactful application. Identifying a wood sample to genus or species level is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, even when using the most recent methods, resulting in a growing need for a readily accessible and field-applicable method for scientific wood identification. Providing fast results and ease of use, computer vision-based technology is an economically accessible option currently applied to meet the demand for automated wood identification. However, despite the promising characteristics and accurate results of this method, it remains a niche research area in wood sciences and is little known in other fields of application such as cultural heritage. To share the results and applicability of computer vision-based wood identification, this paper reviews the most frequently cited and relevant published research based on computer vision and machine learning techniques, aiming to facilitate and promote the use of this technology in research and encourage its application among end-users who need quick and reliable results.
- Conservação da escultura “O Repouso”, de Gustavo Bastos, da coleção do Museu da FBAUP: estudo e metodologia de intervençãoPublication . Gueidão, Marta; Moreira, Patrícia; Bordalo, Rui; Vieira, EduardaA escultura “O Repouso”, criada por Gustavo Bastos em 1953, encontra-se no jardim da Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto (FBAUP) e é parte integrante do acervo da instituição. Trata-se da representação de uma figura feminina reclinada, com os membros inferiores cruzados e os superiores sobre a cabeça, constituída por uma argamassa de cimento e uma estrutura interna metálica. A sua localização no exterior, num espaço aberto e envolvido por vegetação, expondo a obra à ação dos diferentes agentes meteorológicos e da poluição urbana, justifica o seu regular estado de conservação. Estão patentes alterações de natureza físico-química, identificando-se a existência de uma camada heterogénea de incrustações de cor negra, (possivelmente provocada pela deposição de sujidades e poeiras e pelo contacto direto e prolongado com água), bem como colonização microbiológica. Mais recentemente, um ato de negligência aliado à pré-existência de fendas e fissuras de extensão variada conduziu à fratura de um dos pés da escultura e à exposição da estrutura metálica interior, contribuindo para uma deterioração acelerada. Tornou-se urgente uma intervenção de conservação e restauro, que tivesse como objetivo a estabilização dos elementos metálicos da estrutura, a limpeza da superfície, a restituição do elemento destacado e a sua proteção contra o crescimento microbiano. Para a elaboração da proposta de tratamento, procedeu-se à análise e ao estudo material e técnico da obra, auxiliado pela caraterização do microbioma, previamente efetuada no âmbito do projeto BIONANOSCULP (PTDC/EPH-PAT/6281/2014). Visa-se a reposição da leitura estética da obra e o desenvolvimento de protocolos de intervenção/manutenção em esculturas contemporâneas de argamassa cimentícia dada a escassez de informação sobre o tema a nível nacional e internacional.
- Creating of a xylarium and herbarium with a preventive conservation profile: review of procedures and materialsPublication . Silva, José Luís; Bordalo, Rui; Pissarra, José; Palacios, Paloma de; Vieira, Cristiana; Vieira, EduardaThe significance of plant material sample deposits extends beyond the scientific community, with various industries, historians, and law enforcement agencies increasingly relying on them. Preserving global xylariums and herbariums is essential for accessing centuries of data, species, and samples that may no longer exist in their original locations or may be extinct. While maintaining these archives is crucial, it is equally important to ensure proper collection, structure, organization, and classification of new xylariums and herbariums. In that order, a preventive conservation approach is essential to ensure future research by defining actions, materials, and uses to prevent degradative factors and potential harm to the collection This guarantees future accessibility to valuable samples and the knowledge they offer. The paper explores key factors in xylarium and herbarium construction and preservation, including sample drying, pest control, preventive measures, archival materials, facilities, and handling procedures.
- Development of cement industry, technology, and artistic applications: a historical overview of the Portuguese case within an international contextPublication . Gueidão, Marta; Bordalo, Rui; Nunes, Sandra; Vieira, EduardaThe development of the cement industry and technology was a significant driver of progress in construction and artistic applications. Between the late 19th and 20th centuries, cement-based mortars and concrete were widely used in both utilitarian and artistic heritage, serving as structural materials and decorative ornaments. This paper presents a historical overview of the Portuguese cement industry within an international framework. It traces the evolution of modern hydraulic binders from the 18th-century experiments with clay-rich limestone and pozzolan to the 19th-century development of artificial hydraulic lime and major improvements in production processes, kiln design, and chemical analyses, resulting in the standardization of modern artificial Portland cement. These advancements shaped the adaptation and industrialization of cement in Portugal, and marked a gradual transition from natural to artificial cement around the turn of the century. Cement binders imported from England and France continued to dominate the Portuguese market well into the 20th century, even after national production began in the second half of the 19th century. While current research on modern cement heritage often focuses on built structures, this study highlights the cultural significance of cementitious public art. It explores the transition from functional to artistic uses of cement, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries, through selected case studies that reflect the different techniques and mortar formulations, as well as international influences on Portuguese cementitious heritage. An early example is the Teatro Nacional de São João, where ornaments created with cement-based mortars reinforced with steel bars and metal mesh reflect the influence of French engineering and the pioneering work of Joseph Monier. By contextualizing the Portuguese case within broader technological and artistic trends, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of cementitious heritage and emphasizes the need for further research on Portuguese cement-based artworks from the 20th century. The findings reveal compositional variations and applications that often relied on evolving techniques and experimental mortar formulations. Thus, understanding the material and technical evolution of cement-based mortars, as well as the cross-cultural exchanges that have shaped their use, is essential for the effective preservation and appreciation of this understudied part of modern heritage.
- Estudo material das esculturas em gesso de Soares dos ReisPublication . Bordalo, Rui; Vieira, Eduarda; Rocha, Fernando; Carvalho, Salomé; Abreu, José Guilherme; Pereira, Mário
- Exploring portable ultrasonic pulse velocity avails in the conservation assessment of plaster sculptures in museum environmentPublication . Almeida, António Mário; Pereira, Mário António; Vasconcelos, Graça; Carvalho, Salomé; Bordalo, Rui; Vieira, EduardaUltrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) is generally used in Civil Engineering as an in situ and non-destructive methodology to assess the condition of construction materials. Given the fact that non-contemporary sculpture was traditionally made with similar materials – stone, wood, clay or plaster – a hypothesis arose regarding the possible contribution of UPV for the conservation assessment of sculptures with stone-based materials. Plaster is a fragile material, very susceptible to internal and external fractures, alterations and losses. Museum sculptures cannot be moved to a laboratory, due to conservation protocols and therefore portable UPV could, in theory, play an important role in assessing these artistic structures in situ. There are scarce references to such a methodology, and its implementation implied a partnership with Soares dos Reis National Museum (Porto, Portugal) for an experimental approach to three plaster sculptures made by A. Soares dos Reis: “St. Joseph”, “St. Joachim” (both made in 1880) and “Narcissus” (1881). The aim of this study was to assess if portable UPV could help to detect superficial and internal damages and differences between the original plaster and added materials.