CIRAM precisely authenticates your stone artworks through advanced scientific analyses adapted to the mineral specificities of each material.
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It is important to differentiate between the dating of stone as a raw material and the age of the sculpture or work of art. In most cases, it is the chronology of the creation phase that is of interest. It is therefore not possible to use methods such as carbon-14 dating to date minerals.
Dating is carried out by laboratory analysis of samples. Given the slow weathering processes affecting rocks, our methods are particularly relevant for authenticating and characterizing works that are more than 300 years old, and up to several millennia old.
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CIRAM offers a complete analytical protocol guaranteeing rigorous authentication of stone sculptures, whatever the material: marble, jade, sandstone, limestone, granite or other precious stones.
Our integrated scientific approach combines several complementary techniques:
Analysis of a stone artwork not only authenticates the object, but also characterizes the sculpture with a view to restoration.
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The analysis of rock crystal is an exclusive service offered only by the CIRAM laboratory.
Unlike marble or sandstone, siliceous rocks such as rock crystal, agate, chalcedony, jasper, carnelian, or onyx exhibit exceptional resistance to natural weathering, rendering classical dating methods ineffective. Our engineers therefore use an innovative approach, precisely measuring water penetration into the crystal structure.
Usingadvanced ERDA (Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis) andRBS(Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry) techniques, they detect the hydrogen present and thus determine the penetration depth, indicative of the age of the object studied.
Request a studyThe first step of our analytical protocol consists of a characterization of the mineralogical composition of the rock.
Our researchers employ various advanced techniques, including optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. These methods allow for the precise identification of the nature, size, orientation, and spatial distribution of the different constituent minerals of the rock studied, such as silicates, carbonates, or metallic oxides.
This analysis guarantees rigorous rock identification and makes it easier to exclude sculptures made from artificial materials such as synthetic or reconstituted stone.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is at the heart of the analysis of a stone object. This method allows us to study the degree of stone alteration and the origin of this alteration.
By rigorously examining polished micro-sections and surface replicas at high magnification, this technique enables our specialists to precisely assess the degree, chemical nature and origins of weathering phenomena. Among the processes studied are
Our teams of scientists are carefully analyzing the surface deposits present on the stone sculptures, as their composition provides valuable information about the object's history. Do these deposits come from prolonged interactions with a natural burial environment, or are they a patina artificially applied to simulate an ancient appearance?
In addition, examination of the tool marks clearly identifies the lapidary techniques used: are they traditional and manual, in keeping with ancient objects, or do they reveal the use of modern mechanical and electrical tools?
All these clues provide a comprehensive analysis of a stone sculpture, also making it possible to identify cleaning or restoration phases that do not contradict the age of the objects.
X-ray radiography allows for a precise evaluation of the internal homogeneity of stone sculptures and the identification of any restorations, repairs, or hidden assemblies. This radiographic analysis is crucial, as it constitutes a decisive step in the final authentication of stone objects.
The dimensions, sometimes significant, of stone sculptures do not pose an obstacle to these analyses because our engineers and researchers use state-of-the-art portable radiographic equipment. Thus, examinations can be carried out directly in situ, greatly facilitating the structural evaluation of the objects, regardless of their dimensions.
Calling on CIRAM means choosing an expert and internationally recognized laboratory for the analysis and authentication of art objects made of stone.
Our specialized researchers, engineers, and technicians mobilize advanced and proprietary analytical technologies to meet the requirements of museums, galleries, private collectors, or heritage institutions. By combining scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and portable radiography, we guarantee rigorous, precise, and reliable results.
Each analysis is the subject of a detailed and confidential report, providing our customers with clear conclusions on the authenticity, state of conservation and history of the stone sculptures analyzed.
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Contact our teamsCIRAM analyzes all types of stone, including marble, jade, limestone, sandstone and granite, as well as semi-precious stones such as rock crystal, agate and carnelian.
No, carbon-14 dating is reserved for organic materials. For stones, CIRAM uses specific techniques adapted to their mineral composition.
Analyzing a stone's weathering allows us to determine its environmental history, assess its age, and identify any restorations or modifications.
In particular, CIRAM uses X-ray radiography to precisely visualize the internal structure of sculptures and identify areas that have been restored or assembled.
Yes, our analyses are carried out on small samples taken in situ, without moving the works. Furthermore, thanks to our portable equipment, we can perform certain analyses directly on the object.
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