Quanyu Wang
Museum scientist
Technology and interpretation of
non-precious metal objects. Research on deterioration and
conservation of non precious metals.
Department: Conservation and
Scientific Research
Telephone: +44 (0)20
7323 8981
Email: science @ thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Quanyu Wang undertakes research and investigation into
deterioration, conservation and technology of non-precious metal in
the Museum and provides scientific services within the aims
of the Museum.
As a member of science teams she co-ordinates
the development of new projects within the Museum and CRS research
strategies and participates in the development of research
collaborations with external museum and higher education
partners.
She gained her BSc and MSc in ceramic
materials from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, and a PhD in
archaeometallurgy from University College London, UK. Her research
interests are the technology and conservation of archaeological
metals, as well as the technology of ancient ceramics.
Quanyu’s previous employment included a
lectureship at Peking University, China and research fellowship at
the Smithsonian Institution and Sheffield University. Her recent
research projects include the deterioration of Jin bronzes from
China and casting experiments with archaeologically relevant tin
bronzes.
Current British Museum projects
A study of microstructure and corrosion of
untreated small bronze objects from Saqqara, Egypt
Metalworking technology of iron spearheads
from Sutton Hoo
Corrosion of lead in Japanese lacquer
boxes.
Metal work from Kiev – technical study
Previous British Museum projects
Desalination treatments and chloride determination in
desalination solutions
External fellowships/ honorary positions/ membership of professional bodies
Member of The Historical Metallurgy Society (HMS)
Member of the Archaeological Iron After Excavation (AIAE), sub
working group of the International Committee of Museums (ICOM)
Publications
Q. Wang, S. Dove, F. Shearman and M. Smirniou, ‘Evaluation of
methods of chloride ion concentration determination and
effectiveness of desalination treatments using sodium hydroxide and
alkaline sulphite solutions’, The Conservator 31, (2008),
pp. 67-74.
R. J. H. Clark, Q. Wang and A. Correia, ‘Can the Raman spectrum
of anatase in artwork and archaeology be used for dating purposes?
Identification by Raman microscopy of anatase in decorative
coatings on Neolithic (Yangshao) pottery from Henan, China’,
Journal of Archaeological Science 34/11, (2007), pp.
1787-1793.
Q. Wang, ‘An investigation of deterioration of archaeological
iron’, Studies in Conservation, 52/2 (2007), pp.
125-134
M. Odlyha, N. Wade, Q. Wang, R. Campana and J.M. Slater,
‘Microclimate indoor monitoring: damage assessment of cultural
heritage preservation’, in ICOM Committee for Conservation 14th
Triennial Meeting The Hague 12-16 September 2005 Preprints Volume
II. (London, James & James, 2005), pp. 670-676.
Q. Wang and B. S. Ottaway, Casting Experiments and
Microstructure of Archaeologically Relevant Bronzes. BAR
International Series 1331 (Oxford, Archaeopress, 2004)
Q. Wang and B.S. Ottaway ‘Casting and Metallography of Tin
Bronzes in Clay Moulds’, in The Problem of Early Tin,
The Acts of XIVth Congress of the International Union of
Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences, Liège, Belgium,
2–8 September 2001. BAR International Series
1199, A. Giumlia-Mair and F.L. Schiavo (eds.), (Oxford,
Archaeopress, 2003), pp. 35-53.
Q. Wang and K.C. Andrews, ‘Technological
investigation of the decorative coatings on Yangshao pottery from
Henan, China’, Archaeometry 44/2, (2002), pp.
241-250
Q. Wang, Metalworking technology and
deterioration of Jin bronzes from the Tianma-Qucun site,
Shanxi, China. BAR International
Series 1023, (Oxford, Archaeopress, 2002)
M. Schreiner, B. S., Ottaway and Q. Wang, ‘In
the footsteps of prehistorical bronze smiths: A study of
interaction of crucible clay with molten metal and influence of the
properties of cast objects’, in Ceramic in the Society,
Proceedings of the 6th European Meeting on Ancient Ceramics,
Fribourg, Switzerland, 3-6 October 2001, S. Di Pierro, V.
Serneels and M. Maggetti (eds), (Fribourg, 2001), pp.
267-273.
Q. Wang and J.F. Merkel, ‘Studies on the redeposition of copper
in Jin bronzes from Tianma-Qucun, Shanxi, China’, Studies
in Conservation 46/4, (2001), pp. 242-250