Laboratory for dating and analysis of art objects

The analysis of ceramic works, earthenware, porcelain, or faience is done by thermoluminescence (TL test), which allows dating the last firing of the material. This method relies on the ability of quartz and feldspar crystals to accumulate and release irradiation in the form of light, which is proportional to time.

CIRAM has a dedicated laboratory where our experts carry out this test to estimate the age of the object and thus authenticate ceramics and terracotta.

Although scientific dating of a metal artwork is impossible, we can authenticate and provide an age test for all your metal objects.

We precisely identify the elemental composition of alloys and detect formal indicators of modernity (presence of aluminum, phosphorus, or chromium in bronze, or manganese in iron). The study of the patina and internal structure offers a comprehensive and reliable analysis.

Our methods, adapted to each metal, offer scientific expertise to authenticate and assess the age of your art objects.

The dating of a painting addresses numerous issues related to its authenticity. At CIRAM, we begin with carbon-14 dating of the support (canvas, wood, paper), in order to verify its chronological compatibility with the painter's period of activity. This analysis can also lead to reattributing a work.

In parallel, we are conducting in-depth studies of pictorial techniques in the laboratory: signature research, highlighting of preparatory drawings, identification of restoration areas and pentimenti, as well as a characterization of the pigments and binders used.

The carbon-14 dating of objects made of ivory, wood, paper, or canvasis a key step in authenticating works of art. It allows for an estimation of the material's age, but is not always sufficient on its own. It can be supplemented by xylological analysis, which identifies the type of wood and provides indications about its geographical origin.

Other examinations like X-ray radiography or 3D scanning reveal the internal structure, restored areas, or hidden elements, thus enriching the overall expertise.

Forglasses and enamels, our analyses focus on the composition, the state of alteration, and the origin of this alteration. This data allows us to assess the age of an object, particularly in the context of a museum acquisition.

The study relies on a combination of laboratory techniques (optical and electronic microscopy, imaging), carried out by specialized scientists. Each method reveals precise information which, when cross-referenced, constitutes a body of solid evidence to determine if the object is ancient or modern, and thus contribute to its authentication.

It is necessary to distinguish the dating of the stone as raw material from that of the sculpted work. What is generally important is the chronology of creation. However, methods like carbon 14 cannot be applied to minerals. The analysis is carried out in the laboratory, using samples taken. Stone, a material that is not easily altered, is studied on works at least 300 years old.

These studies make it possible to authenticate the object, guide restoration, and identify certain rare minerals, such as rock crystal, analyzed exclusively by CIRAM laboratories.