Chemical Composition: XRF data from Tracer
Alloy: Bronze
Alloying Elements: copper, tin
Other Elements: lead, iron, nickel, silver, antimony, arsenic
K. Eremin, January 2014
Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Bronze:
Cu, 92.57; Sn, 6.84; Pb, 0.06; Zn, 0.005; Fe, 0.15; Ni, 0.04; Ag, 0.02; Sb, 0.06; As, 0.24; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.017; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer
Technical Observations: The patina on the obverse is green with areas of brown and small spots of underlying red. The reverse is dark green with black, red, and brown accretions. The top and sides near the edge are lost. The metal is completely mineralized in some areas, which is convincing evidence of long-term burial. Flecks of bright metal on the corroded areas of the reverse appear to be redeposited copper, from either burial or a treatment.
The handle and disc were probably formed from a cast rod of bronze by cold working. The repoussé work was primarily created from the reverse, with the boundaries of relief elements refined from the obverse. Fine details on the obverse were punched and traced using pointed, elongated, and crescent-shaped tools. The black deposit in recesses on the reverse could be the residue of a backing material applied to support the object during the repoussé work.
Henry Lie
