https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04214-8
Regular Article
Scientific investigation of the Minsterley Maidens’ crowns
1
Science Section, Conservation Department, Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London, UK
2
Independent Researcher, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
3
Conservation Department, The British Library, London, UK
Received:
12
October
2022
Accepted:
20
June
2023
Published online:
10
July
2023
25 samples were taken from seven eighteenth-century commemorative Maidens’ Garlands and Crowns from Minsterley, Shropshire. The samples were investigated by digital microscopy, macro-X-ray fluorescence scanning, Raman microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The study intended to obtain as much information as possible on the making of the crowns, in order to help date them and inform their conservation, care and display. The samples included fragments of wallpaper, textiles and metal coupons. The analyses revealed that traditional materials were present, including indigo, Prussian blue, carbon black, gypsum and iron sulfate, shedding light on ephemeral, everyday items that rarely survive to the present day. This project showcases how national infrastructure can be put to the service of small regional entities that do not have in-house scientific expertise and equipment for the investigation of local cultural heritage artefacts. It also shows how such external support is essential to inform decision making by the caretaker of these objects in regional collections.
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04214-8.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
