Laramie Hickey-Friedman
Introduction
This presentation topic will include a brief history of ultra-violet light technology, fluorescence, and the introduction of UV examination into conservation via museums, concluding with a discussion of current research involving UV examination and possibilities for qualitative analysis. During a review of technical reports numerous notations appeared which identified restoration materials by the color of the fluorescent reflectance. Only in a handful of the reports were the materials analyzed for definitive identification. The remainder relied on visual identification. It is the author’s desire to re-address this common, non-destructive technique and evaluate its usefulness and limitations in comparison to similar analytical techniques and review specifications for both qualitative and quantitative examination studies.