Advanced Micro-chemical Investigation of Golden Threads from Romanian Byzantine Embroideries by Micro-Particle Induced X-ray Emission (micro-PIXE)

In the present study, golden threads from two, apparently identical, medieval epitrachelions considered masterpieces of the Romanian Byzantine embroidery art, were investigated by using Micro-Particle Induced X-ray Emission (micro-PIXE) and optical microscopy. PIXE measurements allowed to accurate identify the elemental composition, distribution of the trace elements, the layered structures (depth profiling) and thicknesses of the gold layer. Useful information for the characterization of the gilded silver threads due to elemental maps concerning the constituent elements spatial distribution in the sample was also obtained.