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The Institute offers a comprehensive package of scientific, analytical,
and photographic services, described herein. Staff use physical
and chemical methods to study the materials and structure of artifacts
and works of art. The work is diverse, ranging from the study of
materials used by Aboriginal people to the examination of Canadian
and European painting and sculpture. Research and analysis of materials
from archaeological sites and natural history collections are also
undertaken in the laboratory and in the field. Staff use a number
of analytical techniques to characterize art and archaeological
materials, and specialize in the correlative application of multiple
techniques and instruments to answer a wide range of questions.
Instrumentation and methodologies have been developed to provide
a great deal of useful information from extremely small samples.
Some examples of scientific, analytical, and photographic services
offered include:
- documentation and analysis of paintings, sculptures, prints
and drawings, textiles, furniture, artifacts from archaeological
sites and ethnographic collections, and natural history specimens
- physical and chemical analysis of samples such as pigments and
fillers, corrosion products, wood, natural and synthetic fibres,
metals and alloys, organic materials, and collagenous materials
- scientific studies in support of museum acquisitions of artifacts
and works of art and investigations by law enforcement agencies
related to questions of attribution, authenticity, and fraud
Staff use a large number of techniques in their work including:
- polarized light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy
- X-ray secondary emission (fluorescence) spectrometry
- scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis
- X-ray diffraction and X-ray microdiffractometry
- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and microspectroscopy
- scientific and technical photography, including photomacrography,
infrared, ultraviolet, and fluorescence (colour) photography
- digital imaging and digital image processing
- (stereo) X-radiography and electron emission radiography
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