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Tag Archives: art conservation

Greek scientists use lasers to clean Acropolis

In the past two and a half thousand years, the temples of the Acropolis have suffered fire, bombing and earthquake. Now, scientists are trying to save them from a new modern enemy: pollution.

Standing on a hilltop at the centre of Athens, a city of 4 million people, the Acropolis’ elaborately sculptured stones have fallen prey to a film of black crust from car exhaust fumes, industrial pollution, acid rain and fires.

A team of Greek engineers and restorers are using an innovative laser technology system to clean the surface of the ancient monuments, uncovering colours and ornamentation hidden for decades.

Oddly Enough | Africa - Reuters.com.

Posted 17 October 2008 † lasergeek § Cool Application ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged:



Laser restoration of Art at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts

Art of restoration - BostonHerald.com: “MFA conservators mix traditional methods - swabbing and stitching - with state-of-the-art technology, including lasers designed for eye surgery and tattoo removal. Hatchfield uses a 65-pound laser with a gunlike handpiece - costing in the $200,000 range - to clean an eroded and blackened marble basin that lay for 2,000 years in the volcanic ruins of Rome’s ill-fated Pompeii. “Boston is at the forefront of this technology,” she said. “Harvard has a laser, the Gardner Museum just got a laser and we have a laser. They’re very expensive. We’re proceeding slowly because there’s some question whether or not this procedure causes yellowing.””

Posted 02 December 2007 † lasergeek § Cool Application ‡ Comments (0) ° Also tagged: