Identification of Materials and Pigments Used in Mural Painting of Rahim Abad Historic Garden & Mansion in Birjand

This paper presents the results of the identification of the binder and pigments used in the mural paintings in Rahim Abad Historic Garden and Mansion in Birjand. Birjand was one of the most important governmental strategic cities in Qajar era (1789-1925 A.D.), and an important branch area of ancient Silk Road, which connected India to Europe. Many monuments, especially historical gardens have been remained in Birjand. Rahim Abad Historic Garden and Mansion is one of this gardens, which in the period of Amir Ismail Khan Shaukat Molk, was the location of Qaenat ruler to consider politics, businesses and accommodating foreign guests. The most important part in the Architectural decoration of Rahim Abad Historic Garden and Mansion is mirror-encrusted decorations, stucco and wall paintings. Due to diversity in building decorations and multiplicity of constructing periods in Rahim Abad Historic Garden and Mansion, identification of pigments and materials used in wall paintings is of a great evidential assistance in extracting chronological information. Wall painting is one of the Iran arts that based on the signs of old paint can be pursued to pre-history. One of the most important issues in the study of historical paintings, especially wall painting, is the identification of the nature of paintings used to decorate the walls. Pigments identification is also important not only from the perspective of archeology, but also in terms of the history of art and knowledge of degradation processes and the development of monument conservation strategies is also important. Scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and handheld X-Ray Florescence spectroscopy (micro-XRF) were used for the characterization of the compound and structure of the paint layers of samples taken from mural paintings. In fact, chemical and physical analysis, provides useful information from spectrum of pigments in a region and recognizing color preparation techniques and its application. Also before proceeding restoration, the accurate information from the chemical composition of materials used in object is required. According to the obtained results, mixture of gypsum and calcite as a substrate layer, red lead (Pb3O4), mixture of malachite (CuCO3.Cu(OH)2) and Prussian blue (Fe4(Fe[CN]6)3), ultramarine (Na8-10Al6Si6O24S2-4), and mixture of two metals, copper and zinc, as the pigments were used. Also, an adhesive like animal glue was that of common materials in Qajar period, as well as used to substrate color. Such pigments are further evidence