The authentication of cultural heritage assets is a complex process of scientific
investigation which takes into consideration the obtaining information on: author, design work
period, the owners and other data related to the main contexts of their evolution in time (routes
traveled). In fact, it is aimed the identification of specific archaeometric features, with
determining the nature of materials and the patina of age, and then the study of artistic
techniques and technology used in the design and realization of a work of art. Latest serve to
define the patrimonial elements and functions fulfilled by the artifact along the time. The old
wooden icons expertise required an interdisciplinary approach, especially because often the
materials used and the elaboration process (making support, applying of the layers of
preparation, polychromic films and varnish) are correlated with the religious symbolism. In this
regard, the specific techniques of microscopy and spectroscopy are very useful tools for
determining the composition of the structural elements and the deterioration / degradation state
of them. This paper presents a comparative study of the materials used in the preparation layer of
three icons made in Russian style. As a technique of analysis it was used micro-and macro
photography assisted by OM, SEM-EDX and micro-FTIR. Based on the experimental data it was
found that the materials used in the preparation (binders and fillers) represent a specific feature
of Russian style icons made in the nineteenth century.