We operate every major non-invasive and micro-invasive technique required for art and heritage science. Investigations combine at least three orthogonal methods.
Non-invasive elemental fingerprinting of pigments, metals, alloys, and ceramics with sub-ppm precision.
Portable and benchtop XRF for in-situ surveys at museums or full quantitative analysis in our cleanrooms. Used to date alloys, identify forgeries, and map provenance.
Stratigraphic study of paint and surface layers under polarized, UV, and electron microscopy.
Each pigment layer is documented at 1 µm resolution. Combined with FTIR and SEM-EDS for binding-media and pigment identification.
Molecular identification of organic binders, resins, varnishes, and synthetic compounds.
Detect anachronistic materials — modern pigments, restorations, or contaminants invisible to elemental methods.
UV, IR-reflectography, and hyperspectral imaging revealing underdrawings and pentimenti.
Reconstruct hidden compositions and overpaintings. Critical for attribution studies and conservation planning.
Independent dating of organic supports, ceramics, and archaeological artefacts.
AMS ¹⁴C dating partnerships with accredited European facilities. TL dating performed in-house for ceramics.
Court-admissible scientific reports synthesising analytical evidence into a defensible conclusion.
Each dossier is signed by two senior scientists and reviewed by our independent ethics board.
Most reports are delivered within 4–8 weeks of receiving the object. Auction deadlines can be accommodated; we will tell you in writing what we cannot honestly conclude in the time available.