Intangible cultural heritage complexes in China: Representation and restoration of pigmented reliefs in Kaiping Diaolou

Restoration techniques were explored for the patterns, materials, and surface pigments of decoration art Kaiping Diaolou Villages, a world cultural heritage site in southern China. Field investigation was supplemented by scanning electron microscopy, microscopic Raman spectroscopy characterization, colorimetric tests, tensile tests. Materials concepts restoration analyzed. used to characterize display decorative patterns. The main colors included green, red, white, blue. green color mixture colored copper arsenate minerals. red made hematite (Fe2O3). White calcite, blue lapis lazuli or synthetic ultramarine. SEM revealed both show similar flake flocculent section morphologies. UV accelerated aging experiments showed that Ultraviolet absorber antioxidants effectively inhibited degradation interface matrix. less prone cracking. tension test bond stress reached maximum value 0.193 MPa at curing temperature 20 °C under 95% ambient humidity. results provide strong evidence pigment Diaolou. This study also provides scientific reference conservation other architectural decorations from same historical period.