Application of FT-NIR for recognition of substances used for conservation of wooden parquets of 19th century manor houses located in South-Eastern Poland

In antique palaces and manor houses, traditional surface finishing techniques were used. The surfaces of antique wooden parquets were soaked with wax or with oils. Those substances preserve wood and have a major influence on its durability. FT-­-NIR spectral analysis of the surface of wood samples obtained from 19th century manor houses are one of the aspects of the ongoing research on antique parquet surface properties. The goal of this study was to verify if FT-­-NIR is useful technique for recognition of natural substances used for the wooden floor conservation. Spectroscopy highlighted differences between different natural surfaces finishing methods. Even if algorithm works well for classification of contemporary wood, evaluation of antique floor was problematic and is under detailed investigation.