Capillary electrophoresis has a completely different separation principle from chromatographic methods: electrically charged sample components move in solution upon application of a high voltage. Differences in their size, shape and charge lead to different migration velocities and enable separation. Separation is carried out in open tubes of capillary size, and on-line detection of the sample zones is possible by various principles. The achievable separation efficiency is higher than with chromatographic methods. A prerequisite for separation is that the analytes are ionic. This can be brought about for the monomers of the common natural binders by selection of the appropriate pH of the buffering background electrolyte with which the capillary is filled. The relevant monomers, all easily obtained after hydrolysis of the binders in the usual way, are fatty acids from drying oils; sugars and sugar acids from plant gums; and amino acids from animal glues. They can be detected without any derivatization. The present work shows that these sample constituents, and consequently the individual binders, can be identified in samples taken from a Baroque wooden polychrome statue, and from the paint layer on wood from a Baroque organ.