Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Non-invasive identification of organic materials in historical stringed musical instruments by reflection infrared spectroscopy: a methodological approach

  • Feature Article
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The analysis of historical musical instruments is becoming more relevant and the interest is increasingly moving toward the non-invasive reflection FTIR spectroscopy, especially for the analysis of varnishes. In this work, a specific infrared reflectance spectral library of organic compounds was created with the aim of identifying musical instrument materials in a totally non-invasive way. The analyses were carried out on pure organic compounds, as bulk samples and laboratory wooden models, to evaluate the diagnostic reflection mid-infrared (MIR) bands of proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and resins by comparing reflection spectra before and after the KK correction. This methodological approach was applied to real case studies represented by four Stradivari violins and a Neapolitan mandolin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Vagnini M, Miliani C, Cartechini L, Rocchi P, Brunetti BG, Sgamellotti A. FT-NIR spectroscopy for non-invasive identification of natural polymers and resins in easel paintings. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2009;395:2107–18. doi:10.1007/s00216-009-3145-6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Poli T, Elia A, Chiantore O. Surface finishes and materials: fiber-optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) problems in cultural heritage diagnostics. e-Preserv Sci. 2009;6:174–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rosi F, Daveri A, Moretti P, Brunetti BG, Miliani C. Interpretation of mid and near-infrared reflection properties of synthetic polymer paints for the non-invasive assessment of binding media in twentieth-century pictorial artworks. Microchem J. 2016;124:898–908. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2015.08.019.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Saviello D, Toniolo L, Goidanich S, Casadio F. Non-invasive identification of plastic materials in museum collections with portable FTIR reflectance spectroscopy: reference database and practical applications. Microchem J. 2016;124:868–77. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2015.07.016.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ploeger R, Scalarone D, Chiantore O. Non-invasive characterisation of binding media on painted glass magic lantern plates using mid-infrared fibre-optic reflectance spectroscopy. J Cult Herit. 2010;11:35–41. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2009.01.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Griffiths PR, De Haseth JA. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. 2nd ed. New Jersey: JohnWiley & Hoboken; 2007.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Invernizzi C, Daveri A, Rovetta T, Vagnini M, Licchelli M, Cacciatori F, Malagodi M. A multi-analytical non-invasive approach to violin materials: the case of Antonio Stradivari “Hellier” (1679). Microchem J. 2016;124:743–50. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2015.10.016.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Daher C, Pimenta V, Bellot-Gurlet L. Towards a non-invasive quantitative analysis of the organic components in museum objects varnishes by vibrational spectroscopies: methodological approach. Talanta. 2014;129:336–45. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2014.05.059.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Poli T, Chiantore O, Nervo M, Piccirillo A. Mid-IR fiber-optic reflectance spectroscopy for identifying the finish on wooden furniture. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2011;400:1161–71. doi:10.1007/s00216-011-4834-5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Korte EH, Staat H. Infrared reflection studies of historical varnishes. Fresen J Anal Chem. 1993;347:454–7. doi:10.1007/BF00635474.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Clausi M, Crisci GM, La Russa MF, Malagodi M, Palermo A, Ruffolo SA. Protective action against fungal growth of two consolidating products applied to wood. J Cult Herit. 2011;12:28–33. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2010.06.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Derrick MR, Stulik D, Landry JM. Infrared spectroscopy in conservation science, scientific tools for conservation. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dondi P, Invernizzi C, Licchelli M, Lombardi L, Malagodi M, Rovetta T. Semi-automatic system for UV images analysis of historical musical instruments. In: Pezzati L, Targowski P, editors. Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology V. Munich. 2015;9527: 95270H. doi: 10.1117/12.2184744.

  14. Dondi P, Lombardi L, Malagodi M, Licchelli M, Rovetta T, Invernizzi C. An Interactive Tool for Speed up the Analysis of UV Images of Stradivari Violins. In: Murino V, Puppo E, Sona D, Cristani M, Sansone C, editors. New Trends in Image Analysis and Processing – ICIAP 2015 Workshops. Springer International Publishing. 2015;9281:103–110. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-23222-5_13.

  15. Echard JP, Benoit C, Peris-Vicente J, Malecki V, Gimeno-Adelantado JV, Vaiedelich S. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry characterization of historical varnishes of ancient Italian lutes and violin. Anal Chim Acta. 2007;584:172–80. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2006.10.048.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio Arvedi di Diagnostica Non Invasiva, Università di Pavia, Via Bell’Aspa 3, 26100, Cremona, Italy

    Claudia Invernizzi & Marco Malagodi

  2. Associazione Laboratorio di Diagnostica per i Beni Culturali, Piazza Campello 2, 06049, Spoleto, Perugia, Italy

    Alessia Daveri & Manuela Vagnini

  3. Dipartimento di Musicologia e Beni Culturali, Università di Pavia, Corso Garibaldi 178, 26100, Cremona, Italy

    Marco Malagodi

Authors
  1. Claudia Invernizzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alessia Daveri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Manuela Vagnini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marco Malagodi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessia Daveri.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Invernizzi, C., Daveri, A., Vagnini, M. et al. Non-invasive identification of organic materials in historical stringed musical instruments by reflection infrared spectroscopy: a methodological approach. Anal Bioanal Chem 409, 3281–3288 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0296-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0296-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation