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During conservation, The Detroit Institute of Arts' late Gothic carved wooden sculpture, Madonna and Child, was found to have extensive, though fragmentary, remains of the original polychromy and at least four subsequent “restoration” overpaints. The materials present in the original and overpaintings were probed by polarizing microscopic and X-ray diffraction analyses of individual paint specimens, and scanning electron microscopic/energydispersive X-ray analyses of cross sections prepared using an ultramicrotome. Several sections were also studied using ultraviolet fluorescence microscopic staining techniques to determine the nature of the media used.The pigments identified include azurite, lead white, calcite, vermilion, red lead, hematite, red lakes and glazes, smalt and Prussian blue. Gold and silver metal leafs were also detected. The deteriorated remains of the late Gothic pressed brocade technique, and the use of “bronze” paint to approximate genuine gold leaf on a later addition to the sculpture, are also discussed.

Preface 1 Unfortunately, most people in the world view natural disasters with fatalism. They think that nothing can be done about them. This attitude is understandable but wrong. We have to try to change it. There is, in fact, a great deal that can be done to save lives and limit the damage. -Olavi EloDirector secretariat International Decade for Natural Disaster ReductionOn March 3, 1985, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Santiago, Chile. At least 146 people were killed, and more than one million others were injured. The quake destroyed the museum building belonging to the Museo de Arte Popular Americano in Santiago, along with many of the artifacts, including a major collection of Chilean folklore ceramics. The collection had to be moved to another museum so that a new facility could be built. Earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, and other displays of nature's wrath present a common and continual threat to cultural institutions all over the globe, which house a majority of the world's invaluable artifacts, historical documentation, and works of art, including sculptures, paintings, books, and ethnographic objects. Threats also can be a result of human activity, such as vandalism and terrorist bombings. Whereas many of these disasters remain out of our control, the ability to prepare and respond to them properly and effectively is within our control.Table 1 is a sampling of emergency situations and the cultural property that was either destroyed or seriously affected. Few institutions are willing to make public the damage caused by disasters, particularly those caused by electrical fires or other internal problems that might have been the result of neglect.The importance of emergency preparedness and planning cannot be emphasized enough, not only to the population at large, but to an institution's staff, administration, and board of trustees. Building an Emergency Plan is designed to guide the director and staff of any cultural institution through the long but essential process of creating an emergency plan. In addition to describing the team approach in the planning process -from the emergency Terms to KnowCommunications coordinator: Works closely with the director and the emergency response coordinator during an emergency situation.Departmental preparedness team: Assists the emergency preparedness manager and the emergency preparedness committee in the emergency preparedness and response process. Each team provides input as appropriate for the function, or department, each represents.Disaster: An event that results in significant loss, damage, or destruction. An emergency can become a disaster if immediate action is not taken to protect staff, visitors, and the collection.Emergency: An unanticipated event or series of events that requires immediate action. Emergency plan handbook:Describes staff response for all potential emergencies, chains of command during an emergency, and recovery procedures. Contains fact sheets, supply lists, and contact lists. The handbook is distributed to all...

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