On the application of optical coherence tomography as a complimentary tool in an analysis of the 13th century Byzantine Bessarion reliquary

The results allow definition of the thickness of the varnishes, their inner morphology and establishes the presence (or absence) of secondary layers of gold leaf upon the original ones. Knowledge of varnish thickness and in-depth localisation of the secondary gold leaf allowed the restoration procedure of cleaning and thinning of the altered varnish to be performed safely and effectively in order to recover the wonderful pristine sight of a precious and ancient byzantine work of art.