Black Copper in Bronze Age Egypt

Giumlía-Mair, Alessandra; Quirke, Stephen

doi:10.2143/re.48.0.2003686

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…AS 6080) (Giumlia-Mair 1997;Giumlia-Mair and Quirke 1997). A hieroglyphic inscription of kings and high officials, dated to the 18th Dynasty (1550( -1292 and thus much later than the crocodile of El Fayum, cites a material called hmty-km, which literally means 'black copper' (Giumlia-Mair and Quirke 1997). The material was later known in Mycenae as kuwano, in classical Greece as kyanos, and in the Roman world as Corinthium aes or Corinthian bronze.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Better Shade of Black: Effects of Manufacturing Parameters on the Development of Ancient Black Bronzes*

2017

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Copper alloys with controlled contents of Sn, Ag and Au were treated with methods and solutions that mimic those used in ancient and traditional procedures for the production of black bronze. Examination of the resulting patinas with colorimetry, SEM–EDS, TEM, Raman spectroscopy and XRD revealed no systematic differences according to the fabrication method, whereas patina homogeneity and colour in those alloys that did not contain precious metal were affected by superficial work. Patina microstructure determines adherence and coverage, and depends upon the solution used irrespective of the alloy composition, but the colour of the patina is mainly related to the alloy composition. Gold promotes the development of cuprite, slowing the oxidation to tenorite in the corrosion process. Gold additions produce a more uniform patina as well as a desirable blue–black tone, which is likely to have been a factor in alloy selection.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Better Shade of Black: Effects of Manufacturing Parameters on the Development of Ancient Black Bronzes*

2017

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“…1), is probably the best known of the Japanese alloys, the colouring of the shakudo patina being mainly due to light absorption and reflection by the fine gold particles distributed in the cuprite layer (Cu 2 O). [2][3][4][5][6] It is by no means unique to Japan and similar black patinated copper and bronze alloys are found in many other cultures -the so-called 'Corinthian bronze' of the Classical Mediterranean for example, 7) and, nearer to hand in Asia, black copper alloys have been noted from Yunnan, Myanmar and Korea. [8][9][10] Traditionally in Japan gold was added to the molten copper as pieces of thin foil and the quantity of gold in the alloy is so small that it makes no visible change to the colour of the copper until it is treated, and then only the surface is transformed to a deep black.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alloys of Japanese Patinated Metalwork

2014

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Alloying to create polychrome effects in metalwork was developed into an important art form in Japan and was mainly used for small items of sword furniture. This paper builds on an analytical study published in 1991 on selected items from the British Museum collection of tsuba, largely dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, 1) and extends it with analyses of the copper alloys of a wider range of objects, some from other collections. The alloys were analysed using micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μXRF). Additional examinations were carried out using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX).The results of the analyses carried out so far suggest that it is possible to track the introduction to Japan of the liquation process to de-silver copper by identifying copper objects of increasing purity after the end of the 16th century. Secondly, after this period, arsenic is rarely found in copper and copper alloys with the notable exception of a number of shakudo alloys, which confirms that a choice was being made to add arsenic deliberately to produce an enhanced patina.

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“…Research into the original appearance of ancient metal artefacts [1][2][3][4][5][6] presents major difficulties owing to corrosion or restoration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intentional patina of metal archaeological artefacts: non-destructive investigation of Egyptian and Roman museum treasures

Aucouturier

Mathis

Robcis

et al. 2010

Corrosion Engineering, Science and Technology

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This paper describes microstructural analyses by X-ray portable diffraction and microdiffraction on intentional patina of the bronze museum objects from antique Egypt and the Roman Empire. They bring evidence of the presence in the true black bronze patinas of metallic gold and/or silver presumably as nanoparticles. Three other Egyptian patinas not belonging to black bronze are characterised. Apparent black patination on a Roman scalpel handle is discussed. The discovery of a new patination procedure on Roman artefacts from the Louvre museum is also related, based on intentional high temperature oxidation to obtain a dark patina on a lead bronze object. A presence of lead carbonate cerussite is an important observation.

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Black Copper in Bronze Age Egypt

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

A Better Shade of Black: Effects of Manufacturing Parameters on the Development of Ancient Black Bronzes*

A Better Shade of Black: Effects of Manufacturing Parameters on the Development of Ancient Black Bronzes*

Alloys of Japanese Patinated Metalwork

Intentional patina of metal archaeological artefacts: non-destructive investigation of Egyptian and Roman museum treasures

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