We are pleased to announce a new, online edition of the NICAS colloquium on Thursday 13 February 2025 from 12.00 to 13.00 hrs. The colloquium will take place online through Microsoft Teams. Throughout the year, NICAS organises a bi-weekly Colloquium consisting of two short research lectures. It provides researchers with the opportunity to present ideas for, updates on or results of their activities. The NICAS Colloquium allows people to stay informed on a regular basis about the latest developments and results of research and to exchange information and expertise.
The Chair of this colloquium is Fréderique Broers (Rijksmuseum) and this week’s presentations are by Emily Benton (UvA) and Vanessa Kirana (UvA).
► Emily Benton – Red, Grey, and Black All Over: Red Lead Discoloration in Edo-Era Japanese Prints
Abstract
Japanese woodblock prints produced during the Edo period (1603 – 1868) use red lead (Pb3O4) as a pigment. Red lead is known to discolor to black, brown, and silver. Prints from the collection of the Rijksmuseum which were suspected of containing this pigment and were discolored were examined. A reconstruction and analysis were also carried out to identify the source of the discoloration. The reconstructed samples were aged using H2S from boiled eggs.
Analysis confirmed the existence of red lead on the Rijksmuseum prints, but the identity of the degradation products could not be determined. The discoloration is suspected to be plattnerite (PbO2) or lead sulfide (PbS). During the reconstruction, it was found that the ratio of red lead to PbO significantly affected how and the amount the samples discolored. Samples containing more PbO discolored quickly and formed a silvery discoloration, while samples with more Pb3O4 discolored slowly and turned brown-black.
Bio
Emily Benton currently a student at the University of Amsterdam studying Book and Paper conservation under the Advanced Professional Programme. Previously she has received a master’s degree in the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at the University of Amsterdam. For her master’s thesis she has researched the discoloration of red lead in ukiyo-e prints and how the preparation of materials and printing process effects how said discoloration forms.
► Vanessa Kirana – Architectural Finishes Research in the Far East
Abstract
The master’s thesis, completed in 2024, utilised the Architectural Finishes Research (AFR) methodology practised in the Netherlands to gain insights into historical architectural practices in Singapore. This research focused on the influences that shaped local building methods and centred on a shophouse built in 1921, referred to as Midfilm House.
By the 20th century, Singapore was a key British trading port on the Malaya Peninsula and underwent significant architectural transformations. Shophouses, recognised for their cost-efficiency and dual-purpose design for commerce and residence, became a dominant architectural form. Midfilm House’s eclectic architectural style incorporated Western classical elements alongside Indo-Islamic motifs. The AFR findings revealed how the diffusion of distinct cultures was also embodied in its lime-based finishes. The application technique and materials constituents signified the effects of international trade and knowledge transfer within the expansive British Empire at the time.
Bio
Vanessa Kirana graduated from a two-year master’s programme in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), where she specialised in Historic Interiors. She is now continuing her studies in the Advanced Professional Programme to further her training as a conservator-restorer. Before starting her studies, she had four years of professional experience at Studio Lapis, an architectural conservation consultancy firm in Singapore. Her research interests centre on architectural finishes, particularly the influence and adaptation of finishes technology across continents. Additionally, she hopes to develop expertise in conserving polychrome surfaces on substrates ranging from plaster to wood.