CIRAM accurately authenticates your stone objets d'art thanks to advanced scientific analyses tailored to the specific mineral characteristics of each material.
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It's 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 work of art in stone not only authenticates the object, but also characterizes the sculpture with a view to restoration.
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Rock crystal analysis 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 are exceptionally resistant to natural weathering, rendering conventional dating methods ineffective. Our engineers therefore use an innovative approach, precisely measuring the penetration of water into the crystal structure.
Using the advanced techniques of ERDA (Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis) and RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry), they detect the hydrogen present and thus determine the depth of penetration, revealing the age of the object studied.
Request a studyThe first step in our analytical protocol is to characterize the mineralogical composition of the rock.
Our researchers employ a variety of advanced techniques, including optical microscopy, electron microscopy and elemental analysis. These methods enable us to precisely identify the nature, size, orientation and spatial distribution of the various minerals making up the rock under study, such as silicates, carbonates or metal 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 stone analysis. This method enables us to study the degree of alteration of the stone 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 carefully analyze the surface deposits present on stone sculptures, as their composition provides invaluable information about the object's history. Are these deposits the result of prolonged interaction with a natural burial medium, or are they an artificially applied patina 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?
Together, these clues provide a complete analysis of a stone sculpture, allowing us to identify phases of cleaning or restoration that do not contradict the age of the objects.
X-ray radiography enables us to accurately assess the internal homogeneity of stone sculptures, and to identify any concealed restorations, repairs or assemblies. This radiographic analysis is essential, as it is a decisive step in the final authentication of stone objects.
The sometimes large dimensions of stone sculptures are no obstacle to these analyses, as our engineers and researchers use state-of-the-art portable X-ray equipment. In this way, examinations can be carried out directly in situ, greatly facilitating the structural assessment of objects, whatever their size.
When you choose CIRAM, you choose an expert laboratory with an international reputation for the analysis and authentication of art objects. authentication of stone objects art objects.
Our specialized researchers, engineers and technicians mobilize advanced and exclusive analytical technologies to meet the requirements of museums, galleries, private collectors and heritage institutions. By combining scanning electron microscopyelemental 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. What's more, thanks to our portable equipment, we can carry out certain analyses directly on the object.
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