STUCCO DECORATIONS OF ZAWIYA AL-QADIRIYYA OF MAMLUK ERA IN CAIRO: MULTI-INSTRUMENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND ANALYSES

Investigation and analysis of falling part samples of the stucco decoration from different places of Zawiya al-Qadiriyya (the Zawiya of Zain al-Din Youssef) have been performed. Zawiya al-Qadiriyya in the Southern Cemetery was built in 1297–1298 A.D. and expanded in the early 14th century in Cairo, Egypt, dating to the 19th century, designed by Antonio La Schiac. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was done to detect the elemental chemical composition of the collected falling part or deciduous part samples. The main detected elements were Ca, S, Si, and C. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) was carried out for various samples from different places from the top surface and core to investigate the crystal structure and phase analysis of these samples. XRD patterns confirmed that the samples are mostly composed of gypsum, anhydrite, calcite, and quartz sand as the main constituents. The microscopic investigation was performed using a stereo optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to examine the surface morphology and explore the core microstructure. In addition, physical characteristics such as density, porosity, and water absorption were carried out to complete the characterization profile of the stucco decoration of falling part or deciduous part samples. The complete image of the samples’ characteristics will help us to select a proper restoration and maintenance route to clean, consolidate, and preserve the unique original structure and features of its stucco decoration.