Plating and Surface Treatments on Ancient Metalwork

Giumlía-Mair, Alessandra

doi:10.1016/j.aia.2020.10.001

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Among the pieces studied here, the identification of a new example of the use of fire gilding (torc MAC-3245) stands out. This technique is based on the propensity of mercury to amalgamate with gold, forming a paste that is applied to the surface of the metal to be gilded and subsequently heated to a moderate temperature (around 250-350º), causing the partial evaporation of mercury; the resulting porous surface is finished by burnishing [70,77,[83][84][85]. It went unnoticed for years in studies on Castro-culture goldwork, but in recent years it has been increasingly documented, both in torcs [77] and in hair adornments [78] or ornamental overlays [30].…”

Section: Some Interpretative Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric and Early Roman Period Goldwork from Northwestern Iberia: An Analytical Study of Artefacts from the Archaeological and Historical Museum of A Coruña

García-Vuelta,

Armada

2024

Heritage

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article presents the results of a topographical and analytical study using hh-XRF of 22 gold and gilded objects from the Archaeological and Historical Museum of A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). They are highly representative of the northwestern Iberian goldwork from the Chalcolithic (third millennium BC) to the early Roman period (first century AD). This study contributes to our knowledge of the production techniques used in those periods, as well as their evolution over time. The collection includes some of the most representative types in this area, such as Early Bronze Age “sheet collars” and torcs from the Second Iron Age. In the case of torcs, new data are provided on one of the formally best-documented types (the Artabrian type) and on those known as “Baroque torcs” that are characteristic of the final moments of this goldsmith tradition. While pieces from the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age were made with alluvial gold, the torcs from the Late Iron Age contain variable amounts of silver and copper. Also detected is the frequent use of cores made of less precious metals, which were subsequently given a golden appearance using gilding techniques. The new data are discussed in light of our current knowledge of NW Iberian goldwork, one of the most representative of this craft tradition in Western Europe for those periods.

show abstract

Section: Some Interpretative Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric and Early Roman Period Goldwork from Northwestern Iberia: An Analytical Study of Artefacts from the Archaeological and Historical Museum of A Coruña

García-Vuelta,

Armada

2024

Heritage

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is important to note that it is difficult to ascertain by eye if an artifact was gilded by this method because other gilding methods result in a similar appearance (for the naked eye), necessitating chemical and microscopic analysis to ascertain the used method [3] . Still, it is established that this method was extensively used worldwide [36] and well‐established in the Middle Ages (i. e., armor garnitures, weapons, and so on) [37] . An Au gilded surface is shown in Figure 3a together with the corresponding concentration profile in Figure 3b, signifying that the gilded layer retains some mercury and that the Au layer is limited in thickness to a few μm [3] .…”

Section: A Brief Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Short History of Fusible Metals and Alloys – Towards Room Temperature Liquid Metals

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Liquid metals are a class of materials with a millennia-long history, albeit until 200 years ago, mostly centered on mercurybased applications. The knowledge of mercury's toxicity and the discovery of it's bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the late 20 th century resulted in phasing out mercury for copious application. Lead-based, bismuth-based, and sodiumbased technology has partially replaced mercury, but due to toxicity or reactivity issues, replacements for lead and sodium are sought. The discovery of indium and, especially, gallium has allowed for the third generation of alloys with a melting point close to room temperature. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the technological developments of fusible and liquid metals, i. e., metals and alloys with melting points below ca. 250 °C, from the early days to current research and industrial application. Special emphasis is focused on important steppingstones and recent developments of gallium-based alloys as well as how they could be used for future applications.

show abstract

“…Giumlia-Mair (2020, 4) outlined the main methods of gilding in Antiquity, which include using a layer of what she terms ‘gesso’ beneath the gold. The method of gilding found on all types of wreaths studied, though not all the wreaths, involved applying a thin layer of gold leaf (which is thinner than gold foil) above a layer of coating (the term ‘gesso’ is not used here since the layer was often not a true gesso, which is hydrated calcium sulphate).…”

Section: Gilding Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another method of gilding referred to by Giumlia-Mair (2020, 5) as used in Antiquity is mercury gilding, though in the author's view it is unclear whether it was used in the Eastern Mediterranean during the period under study 28 . No evidence of mercury was found when berries, a circlet and leaves were analysed (see Table 1), whereas some trace would have remained had mercury been used (Northover and Anheuser 2000, 114).…”

Section: Gilding Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

Gilded Wreaths From the Late Classical and Hellenistic Periods in the Greek World

Mason

2022

Annu. Br. Sch. Athens

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper discusses gilded wreaths from the Greek world, which were sometimes buried in graves in the period between the fourth century BC and Roman times. It is based upon a study undertaken by the author for her doctoral thesis. A categorisation into seven types is proposed, based on first-hand study of some 170 wreaths. Some of the wreaths studied are presented here and a detailed description of one representative example of each type with contextual information is set out in the Appendix. It is not clear whether gilded wreaths were worn in life, but their main use seems to have been funerary. Most were intended for the head, and some ideas as to how the various types may have been worn are proposed. Suggestions as to the probable origin of each of the various types are made, with caveats. The author was able to analyse many wreaths, enabling her to draw some conclusions as to the materials used; the results most relevant to the seven specimens described in the Appendix are set out in the two tables. There follows a discussion of the gilding technique used, which in most cases involved an application of a clay coating and adhesive beneath the gold. Some items with similarities to gilded wreaths are then discussed to set them in context: gold wreaths, terracotta jewellery and single leaves. The paper reviews the four main uses with which wreaths are associated in ancient Greece, all connected (religious purposes; on death; at the symposium and banquets; and to honour victorious athletes and other outstanding persons) before offering some explanations as to why gilded wreaths may have been buried in graves.

show abstract

Plating and Surface Treatments on Ancient Metalwork

Cited by 17 publications

References 31 publications

Prehistoric and Early Roman Period Goldwork from Northwestern Iberia: An Analytical Study of Artefacts from the Archaeological and Historical Museum of A Coruña

Prehistoric and Early Roman Period Goldwork from Northwestern Iberia: An Analytical Study of Artefacts from the Archaeological and Historical Museum of A Coruña

A Short History of Fusible Metals and Alloys – Towards Room Temperature Liquid Metals

Gilded Wreaths From the Late Classical and Hellenistic Periods in the Greek World

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About