Examination · Fire-gilded and amalgam-silvered copper alloy
Maritime Precious Metal Texel
Research on a gilded object from the seventeenth-century shipwreck 'BZN-17/Palmhoutwrak' off the coast of Texel. Dimensions: 20 cm x 30 cm x 6 cm.
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Client
Province of North Holland
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Period
Unknown, probably 17th century
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Origin
UvA, studio building
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Duration
January 2017
Challenge
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the corrosion layer on metal objects from a (maritime-)archaeological context can play a unique role as an information carrier and aims to make the conservation field aware of this.
Approach
The above research question was studied using a gilded object from the seventeenth-century shipwreck 'BZN-17/Palmhoutwrak' off the coast of Texel. Technical analyses using XRF and SEM-EDS provided strong indication that the object had a historical finish in the form of a so-called burnishing wax. Moreover, GC-MS analysis detected residues of a (bee)wax on the surface. Such information risks being lost during extensive conservation treatments.
Outcome
Technical analyses provided strong indication that the object had a historical finish in the form of a so-called burnishing wax. GC-MS analysis detected residues of a (bee)wax on the surface. Such information risks being lost during extensive conservation treatments.
Techniques
- XRF
- SEM-EDS
- GC-MS analysis
- Technical analysis
Materials
- XRF equipment
- SEM-EDS
- GC-MS
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