Abstract:

The flower and bird painting handscroll attributed to Liu Songnian mentioned in this article was identified as a late Qing Dynasty imitation of Liu Songnian's paper handscroll. The handscroll was detached from its mount, fractured, and soiled when it was stored. In order to better perform the restoration work and restore the artifact to its original state, microscope, fiber analyzer, pH meter, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer were used to test and analyze the paper core of the painting and some of its pigments before restoration. It was discovered that the paper and silk fabric of this painting were seriously aged, including extensive creases, breaks, and insect damage, according to the testing and analysis. The seals on the signature were found to be blurred due to oil leakage, and it was also confirmed that the red pigment on the crane's head was vermilion and has safety issues, as it contains mercury and requires special protective and preservation measures. This restoration achieved a relatively ideal outcome through comprehensive analysis and research, utilizing traditional painting restoration techniques, and steps including cleaning, removing the original carbon paper, seamless color matching, and reinforcement with paper strips.

Key words: Liu Songnian, paper handscroll, XRF, restoration and protection