Characterization of three detached components of the south Gate of Firenze Baptistery through TOF neutron diffraction and NRCA

The South Gate of Florence Baptistery is a 3 meters high gilded bronze artifact designed by Andrea Pisano and cast by Lorenzo D’Avanzo and co-workers between 1329 and 1336. It is one of the oldest Middle Ages bronze gates in existence in Europe. In order to gain the highest amount of information about the gate manufacturing method, we plan to use neutron and muon techniques on three detached components. Our goal consists in the investigation of the casting and gilding manufacturing procedures by identifying: a) number and position of the casting channels; b) composition and homogeneity of the brass alloy in the different areas; c) general quality of the casting through the identification of the presence and size of bubbles, flaws and defects; d) composition and thickness of the mercury amalgam gilding. Diffraction and NRCA will be used to support ansewers for all questions.