A pilot study evaluating challenges using handheld XRF for provenance studies of bronze sculptures

Abstract

X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) is widely applied for bronze analyses, but the problems associated with obtaining good data are rarely described. This is a pilot study to evaluate sampling issues before embarking on a large analytical study to compile a database linking composition to foundries, contributing to attribution. The artist selected employed only a few foundries, and a collection with reliable provenance was available. Methodological challenges in analysing bronzes included collimated beam size, photon escape depth, surface effects and the multilayered nature of patinated surfaces. A pilot study on representative works tested multiple analytical strategies to identify a reliable means of discriminating between foundries. Consistent results were obtained using an alloy factory XRF calibration applied directly to patinated surfaces. As alloy–patination combinations were proprietary to each foundry, this approach provided distinctive compositional fingerprints while remaining reproducible and scalable for larger collections.