This paper presents an analytical study and treatment of an Arsenical Copper ewer from old kingdom stored in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Examination and analysis were carried out by using optical microscopy (OM), metallographic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicated that ewer was made of copper-arsenic alloy; it had intended black layer which referred to the fertile soil. The ewer was made by cold-working and the spout was joined mechanically; it has three layers of alteration products with various compositions and morphology covering the substrate of the alloy. XRD results indicated that the ewer was subjected to many corrosive ions such as chloride and sulfur. This study provides useful information that helped in preserving this unique ewer.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.