Microstructural characteristics of fifth-century Silla gilded artifacts from Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120-2 in Gyeongju, Korea.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Kongju National University, 56 Gongjudaehak-ro, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do, 32588, Republic of Korea.
- 2Research Institute for Basic Science, Kongju National University, 56 Gongjudaehak-ro, Gongju- si, Chungcheongnam-do, 32588, Republic of Korea. [email protected].
- 3Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Kongju National University, 56 Gongjudaehak-ro, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do, 32588, Republic of Korea. [email protected].
- 4Research Institute for Basic Science, Kongju National University, 56 Gongjudaehak-ro, Gongju- si, Chungcheongnam-do, 32588, Republic of Korea. [email protected].
Abstract
This study investigated the gilding microstructures and manufacturing techniques of a fifth-century Silla horse-harness fitting excavated from the grave-goods compartment of Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120-2 in Gyeongju, Korea. The specimen comprised two structural components: a gilded copper plate and a connecting iron rivet wrapped in gilded silver sheet. A single polished cross section prepared from the artifact was examined by stereomicroscopy, reflected-light metallurgical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Residual Hg in the gilded regions of both components supports the use of mercury-amalgam gilding. Gilding-related microstructures survived on both faces and at the bent ends of the silver sheet, consistent with gilding before wrapping the rivet. EDS analysis detected Au and Hg in the amalgam regions. High-magnification imaging revealed granular remnants at both ends of the rivet that may represent Au-Hg amalgam residues associated with incomplete finishing. Local gilding thicknesses at two locations on the copper plate were 1.33 ± 0.53 μm and 1.01 ± 0.23 μm, whereas the bright gilded regions on opposite faces of the silver sheet measured 3.69 ± 1.04 μm and 3.52 ± 0.63 μm. These measurements document local thickness differences between gilded regions on copper and silver substrates within one cross section. Together, the terminal granular remnants and substrate-associated differences in local gilding thickness provide evidence for reconstructing the gilding sequence and finishing practices employed in fifth-century Silla metalworking.
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BibTeX
@article{kim2026microstructural,
title = {{Microstructural characteristics of fifth-century Silla gilded artifacts from Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120-2 in Gyeongju, Korea.}},
author = {Seonggon Kim and Euna Kim and Gyuho Kim},
journal = {Applied microscopy},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s42649-026-00146-6},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925372},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Microstructural characteristics of fifth-century Silla gilded artifacts from Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120-2 in Gyeongju, Korea.
AU - Seonggon Kim
AU - Euna Kim
AU - Gyuho Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Applied microscopy
DO - 10.1186/s42649-026-00146-6
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925372
AB - This study investigated the gilding microstructures and manufacturing techniques of a fifth-century Silla horse-harness fitting excavated from the grave-goods compartment of Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120-2 in Gyeongju, Korea. The specimen comprised two structural components: a gilded copper plate and a connecting iron rivet wrapped in gilded silver sheet. A single polished cross section prepared from the artifact was examined by stereomicroscopy, reflected-light metallurgical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Residual Hg in the gilded regions of both components supports the use of mercury-amalgam gilding. Gilding-related microstructures survived on both faces and at the bent ends of the silver sheet, consistent with gilding before wrapping the rivet. EDS analysis detected Au and Hg in the amalgam regions. High-magnification imaging revealed granular remnants at both ends of the rivet that may represent Au-Hg amalgam residues associated with incomplete finishing. Local gilding thicknesses at two locations on the copper plate were 1.33 ± 0.53 μm and 1.01 ± 0.23 μm, whereas the bright gilded regions on opposite faces of the silver sheet measured 3.69 ± 1.04 μm and 3.52 ± 0.63 μm. These measurements document local thickness differences between gilded regions on copper and silver substrates within one cross section. Together, the terminal granular remnants and substrate-associated differences in local gilding thickness provide evidence for reconstructing the gilding sequence and finishing practices employed in fifth-century Silla metalworking.
SN - 2287-5123
SN - 2287-4445
ER -