Chemical Composition: XRF data from Artax 1
Alloy: Mixed Copper Alloy
Alloying Elements: copper, tin, lead, zinc
Other Elements: iron, silver
K. Eremin, January 2014
Technical Observations: The patina is a saturated olive green, probably due to waxing; the white accretions in the recesses are probably wax as well. The metal has corroded to some extent during burial. The fragile, fine edges have broken off in a few places, revealing lighter green mineralized areas. The losses include the top of the bifurcated end, where the two rivet holes have been transformed into semicircular notches. The surface was no doubt also cleaned mechanically after excavation. There are scratches and porosity on the reverse.
The object was cast in one piece. Whether some of the design on the front was created in the model before casting or was entirely carved into the metal is unclear, but certainly, there are traces of faceted chiseling visible in the metal. The slightly notched line along the outer edges of the long sides may have been inlayed with metal wire.
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)
