Characterization of painted beehive panels: Slovenian unique folk art creativity*

Painted beehive panels are representative examples of folk art specific and unique to Slovenia. Although without precedence in European ethnographic art, not much attention has been given the past artists’ materials involved creation these paintings. This study, which included three different (dating from beginning 19th second half 20th centuries), was focused on material characterization using Raman Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) spectroscopy (non-, minimally invasive invasive). The analyses showed that many examined paint layers were composed historically commonly available colouring agents, although less traditional ones also detected individual panels. Additionally, research suggests lipids main or even sole component paints’ binder. evidence corresponds fairly well with written texts century.