X-ray imaging reveals what the eye cannot see, without altering the artwork. CIRAM can help you study and conserve them.
Contact our teams
Many heritage objects contain elements invisible to the naked eye: internal cracks, hidden structures, undocumented restorations or complex manufacturing techniques. Just as optical imagingX-ray imaging can detect them without contact or sampling.
Whether you need toauthenticating a work of artor assessing the state of conservation of an ancient artifact, this method offers an in-depth reading to guide decisions related to conservation, expertise, restoration or enhancement.
When you call on CIRAM, you benefit from personalized scientific support tailored to the heritage and commercial challenges of each project.
Contact our teamsX-ray imaging is based on a simple principle: X-rays penetrate matter and are absorbed differently depending on the density and composition of the material. This contrast reveals internal information invisible on the surface.
Unlike invasive methods, X-ray radiography:
This method is particularly well-suited to rare or fragile works, ancient artifacts, and any object whose integrity must be respected. It is equally suited to museums, private collections and archaeological digs.
Thanks to fixed laboratory equipment or portable equipment for on-site interventions, CIRAM guarantees examinations adapted to each context, while respecting conservation and handling constraints.
Request a quoteX-rays provide a 2D image of an object's internal structure. It can be used to :
CIRAM uses high-precision radiography systems, available in both portable and laboratory versions. This allows for great flexibility of intervention: on site (museum, gallery, archaeological site) or under controlled laboratory conditions.
CT scan is a 3D imaging technique based on radiography. It enables detailed volumetric exploration of an object's interior, thanks to successive digitally reconstructed slices.
In the art market CT scanning is an advanced authentication tool, particularly for sculptures:
At archaeologyit can be used to :
CT scans offer complete, non-invasive 3D modeling, but require a laboratory visit (non-portable technology).
Since 2005, CIRAM has been supporting heritage professionals in the analysis and conservation of ancient works and objects. Our multi-disciplinary team - physicists, archaeologists, engineers - mobilizes cutting-edge technologies to respond to each project with precision, scientific rigor and adaptability.
Whether you need toanalyze old mortarsto date an old work or scan scan a cinerary urnCIRAM selects the imaging method (X-ray or CT scan), and intervenes in the laboratory or on site, as required.
Each analysis is accompanied by interpretable visuals (X-ray images, films or 3D models), a detailed report, and recommendations tailored to your needs: conservation, attribution, restoration, enhancement.
Contact our teamsPaintings, sculptures, archaeological objects, metal artifacts, sealed objects... Most materials can be studied.
No, the techniques used by CIRAM are non-destructive and respect the physical integrity of the objects.
Conventional X-rays provide a flat image, while CT scans allow 3D modeling, providing a finer reading.
Yes, CIRAM offers portable equipment for on-site analysis, in museums or on excavation sites.
This depends on the complexity of the object. An X-ray can be completed in a few hours, while a CT scan requires a longer processing time.
CIRAM has dated two fossilized pieces of wood, whose exceptional state of preservation is due in part to the fact that they were buried in a humid, oxygen-poor environment.
An indispensable dating method, carbon-14, or radiocarbon, is used to date archaeological artifacts, authenticate works of art, or measure bio-based content.
Find out what biobased products are, what their advantages are, and how manufacturers are integrating them to transform their practices.
The scientific analysis of a painting combines several complementary methods that make it possible to study its support, materials, production technique, state of preservation, and its a…
Choosing the right dating method in archaeology is not just a technical issue: it is a key decision that guides the entire interpretation of a site. Which technique to choose...
How can you authenticate a work of art or an archaeological relic with scientific rigor? Carbon-14 dating offers a reliable and precise method for analyzing organic materials...
