Research on Material, Craft, Conservation and Restoration of Yingluo in the Clock with Gold-Plated Copper Bull and Vase from Qing Dynasty in the Place Museum

The clock with gold-plated copper bull and vase made in Britain in the 18^th century is a typical instrument of western clocks in the Qing Palace, which was originally placed in the eastern warm room of the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Place Museum. Due to the breakage of the metal wire, the pearls on the Yingluo decorated on the back of the copper bull were scattered and missing. Therefore, the rescue repair and appearance restoration of the Yingluo part was carried out after the function restoring of the clock. Before the restoration, three-dimensional video and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer were used to measure the size and materials of the metal wires and pearls of the Yingluo part. The results showed that the original Yingluo was made of gold-plated silver wire with a diameter of 0.15 mm, containing 95 % Ag, three sizes of seawater pearls (the diameter of 1.1 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.2 mm, respectively) and green enamel beads. The compilation of Yingluo is a four-wires interlocking netlike bead chain and pearl tassels. In the reparative process, the silver wires containing 99% Ag and the pearls with similar sizes as the originals were used. According to relevant archives, Yingluo in the palace of the Qing Dynasty was often used in three types of scenes: Buddhist artifacts, palace lanterns and animal-themed artifacts. There are two kinds of stringing materials: real silk thread and metal thread. The protection and restoration of the Yingluo part in the clock with gold-plated copper bull and vase cultural relic provides a reference for the protection and restoration of Yingluo with metal thread.