Material analysis on the crucifix in San Michele: the filling material

Abstract

In the Romanesque basilica S. Michele in Pavia there is a silver foil Crucifix that dates back to the XII century. During a precise restoration work carried out in 2003 the material was analyzed in order to obtain more precise information. In particular the analysis focused on the filling materials under the silver foil and on the characterization of their resins, which, according to the results, are colophony and beeswax. The filling material for the head is very probably the original one and its binder is wax, the filler of the body is different and very probably it was reintroduced during one of the previous restoration works on the crucifix, of which unfortunately we know nothing.