AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

The identification of wood with the use of visibly induced ultraviolet fluorescence has been used mostly for the timber industry and has only briefly been explored in the field of Art Conservation. Making use primarily of relatively large core samples dispersed in solvent, the need for a more reliable, faster, and less invasive technique for wood identification is of pressing importance. Thanks to the recent advancement in Fiber Optics Spectroscopy (FOS) the possibility of creating repeatable fluorescent responses from wooden art objects has become more of a possibility. This poster explores the potential application of Fiber Optic Spectroscopy (FOS) in the ultraviolet (UV) range for the minimally invasive identification of wood species, in the context of art conservation and cultural heritage.

The study focuses on the identification of various wood species commonly found in cultural heritage institutions, including Mahogany, White Oak, Walnut, Poplar, and Ebony, through UV-induced fluorescence spectra and compares the results to known fluorescing species such as Staghorn Sumac. Notably, many of these woods are not known to visibly fluoresce under UV light with the results revealing that FOS in the UV range can produce identifiable spectra for wood samples, even in cases where visible fluorescence is absent. The emission and absorption bands for each wood species are analyzed, providing characteristic spectral fingerprints.

The poster concludes by highlighting the potential of FOS in UV fluorescence as a minimally invasive tool for wood identification, particularly in art conservation, offering a new potential approach to addressing this aspect of the field. The need for further research is emphasized, including the expansion of the sample size to encompass a broader range of wood species, investigation of how growing environments affect spectral responses, and the creation of a comprehensive spectral database for future comparative analysis.