Fixing materials of Czechoslovak “socialistic” mosaics

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68378297%3A_____%2F25%3A00638610" target="_blank" >RIV/68378297:_____/25:00638610 - isvavai.cz</a>

Výsledek na webu

—

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Fixing materials of Czechoslovak “socialistic” mosaics

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

Monumental mosaics from Czechoslovakia’s socialist era (1948–1989) have long faced societal rejection due to their perceived association with political propaganda. However, recent shifts in cultural heritage perspectives have led to their recognition as historical monuments, underscoring the need for precise material characterization to develop appropriate conservation strategies. This research addresses the existing gap in knowledge regarding the composition and fixation techniques of these mosaics using standard analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), thermal analysis (TG/ DTG), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), gas chromatography (GC), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). During the latter half of the 20th century, numerous monumental mosaics were created across socialist countries. In Czechoslovakia, most mosaic installations were produced by two state-run companies due to the absence of private art and craft studios. The largest mosaic studio existed within the so-called Central Art and Craft Studio (Ústředí uměleckých řemesel - ÚUŘ). It developed standardized techniques for mosaic fixation3. However, until now, no scientific verification has been conducted to assess the extent to which these standardised procedures were consistently applied in practice. Fixing materials, i. e. mosaic beds of 10 mosaics designed by outstanding artists of the time (Martin Sladký, Radomír Kolář, Sauro Ballardini, Eva Kmentová etc.) were investigated within this study. Detailed examination of the mosaic samples, including those assembled by state-run studios as well as rare works produced directly by independent artists, reveals both uniformity and notable exceptions in material composition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses demonstrate that the chemical composition of the mortars generally aligns with expectations for Portland cement binders, with characteristic levels of CaO, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, and the presence of unhydrated clinker residues. The binder of the ÚUŘ mosaics can be characterised as a blended cement as it contains unreacted blast furnace slag grains apart from clinker residues. This finding is in accordance with contemporary literature. In several samples, a relatively low degree of carbonation was observed, while others exhibited pronounced decalcification and secondary formation of CaCO₃ polymorphs such as vaterite and aragonite. In particular, the mortars associated with some state‐run projects display a standardised, nearly uniform aggregate composition, whereas authorial exceptions—such as the mosaic sculpture by Eva Kmentová and Olbram Zoubek—reveal the deliberate incorporation of asbestos cement and tailored binder modifications.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Fixing materials of Czechoslovak “socialistic” mosaics

Popis výsledku anglicky

Monumental mosaics from Czechoslovakia’s socialist era (1948–1989) have long faced societal rejection due to their perceived association with political propaganda. However, recent shifts in cultural heritage perspectives have led to their recognition as historical monuments, underscoring the need for precise material characterization to develop appropriate conservation strategies. This research addresses the existing gap in knowledge regarding the composition and fixation techniques of these mosaics using standard analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), thermal analysis (TG/ DTG), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), gas chromatography (GC), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). During the latter half of the 20th century, numerous monumental mosaics were created across socialist countries. In Czechoslovakia, most mosaic installations were produced by two state-run companies due to the absence of private art and craft studios. The largest mosaic studio existed within the so-called Central Art and Craft Studio (Ústředí uměleckých řemesel - ÚUŘ). It developed standardized techniques for mosaic fixation3. However, until now, no scientific verification has been conducted to assess the extent to which these standardised procedures were consistently applied in practice. Fixing materials, i. e. mosaic beds of 10 mosaics designed by outstanding artists of the time (Martin Sladký, Radomír Kolář, Sauro Ballardini, Eva Kmentová etc.) were investigated within this study. Detailed examination of the mosaic samples, including those assembled by state-run studios as well as rare works produced directly by independent artists, reveals both uniformity and notable exceptions in material composition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses demonstrate that the chemical composition of the mortars generally aligns with expectations for Portland cement binders, with characteristic levels of CaO, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, and the presence of unhydrated clinker residues. The binder of the ÚUŘ mosaics can be characterised as a blended cement as it contains unreacted blast furnace slag grains apart from clinker residues. This finding is in accordance with contemporary literature. In several samples, a relatively low degree of carbonation was observed, while others exhibited pronounced decalcification and secondary formation of CaCO₃ polymorphs such as vaterite and aragonite. In particular, the mortars associated with some state‐run projects display a standardised, nearly uniform aggregate composition, whereas authorial exceptions—such as the mosaic sculpture by Eva Kmentová and Olbram Zoubek—reveal the deliberate incorporation of asbestos cement and tailored binder modifications.

Druh

D - Stať ve sborníku

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

20501 - Materials engineering

Projekt

—

Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název statě ve sborníku

7th Historic Mortars Conference (HMC 2025), Padova. International conference

ISBN

978-88-5491-636-4

ISSN

—

e-ISSN

—

Počet stran výsledku

3

Strana od-do

331-333

Název nakladatele

Edizioni Quasar

Místo vydání

Roma

Místo konání akce

Padova

Datum konání akce

2. 9. 2025

Typ akce podle státní příslušnosti

WRD - Celosvětová akce

Kód UT WoS článku

—