The Fairfield University Plaster Cast Collection holds a large variety of about 100 plaster casts made in the 19<sup>th</sup>-20<sup>th</sup>centuries of famous sculpture from the ancient Greek and Roman period through the Renaissance. These casts, donated or lent from many prestigious institutions, arrived at Fairfield with few records concerning their history and background. Most of the cast collection is held in a stable environment with controlled temperature and humidity levels. With this controlled atmosphere, some of the casts are in stable condition and others show signs of decay. Results from Flame Atomic Absorption (FAA) spectroscopic analysis of calcium in the plaster samples from the collection along with modern casts made in the lab will be discussed to understand whether calcium concentration affects stability. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and porosimetry results will be discussed in relation to how morphology and structure affect the stability of the casts. An analysis of the moisture content of each cast will be presented as well. Overall the goal of this project is to find a way to understand what makes a plaster sample stable and how to better conserve the samples in the university’s collection.

Relating the chemical and morphological characterization of plaster cast statues to durability

255th National Meeting (2018)

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