Application of Holographic Interferometry to Museum Objects

In this paper some experimental results related to practical applications of holographic non-destructive techniques for the inspection of the condition of museum items are presented, especially those used in the detection of deformation, stress concentration and defect localization. These results are obtained using the basic principles of traditional double-exposure holographic interferometry, as well as with its electronic variant with image processing. In the latter case, the accuracy in displacement measurements was studied on a specific test-object. Two museum items were selected for their condition inspection: a XVIIIth century icon on wooden panel and a precolumbian terracotta anthropomorphic. The described technique can give quite accurate metrological information, but is also rather promising for rapid qualitative analysis of the object condition before and after restoration, as well as during its storage.