WACC Analytical Services

The Analytical Department was established in 1991 to serve the analytical needs of member museums, non-profit institutes and laboratories, and corporate and private collectors. Analytical services include:

1. Materials analysis for conservators. An understanding of the material(s) from which the object is made, to aid conservator to determine the best treatment plan.
2. Technical analysis of art objects. Materials analysis (for example, of pigments and binding media in paintings, or elements in metals and glass) can provide information about the origin and age of objects, thereby helping to ascertain their authenticity.
3. Research on art materials, archaeological objects and conservation techniques. For art historians, museum curators and archaeologists, the physical composition of an object often has historical and cultural meanings which can be revealed by materials analysis. Conservation techniques may be improved by systematic comparative experiments which also require scientific analysis.   

Range of analytical techniques available:

• Optical Microscopy
• X-ray radiography
• Micro-FTIR Spectrometry
• SEM-EDS
• GC-MS
• XRF (portable)
• UV-VIS Spectrometry
• LC-DAD-MS
• LC-Ion trap MS
• Laser Raman Spectrometry
• MALDI-TOF-MS 

To request scientific analysis from the Analytical Department, please contact the office at wacc@williamstownart.org or by phone at 413-458-5741