Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Leaded Bronze:
Point 1 (handle): Cu, 72.2; Sn, 3.76; Pb, 23.3; Zn, 0.002; Fe, 0.01; Ni, 0.09; Ag, 0.28; Sb, 0.2; As, 0.15; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.016; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer
Technical Observations: This phiale appears to have originally consisted of three parts: the dish, the spool-shaped attachment along one part of the rim, and the handle, which is attached to the spool-shaped attachment.
The extreme thinness of the vessel’s walls indicates that it was hammered into shape and that the boss was raised in the center. The corrosion and burial accretions conceal much of the surface on both sides, but the elongated tool marks that helped shape the edge of the slightly raised hump of the floor of the vessel are visible. The spool element with raised decorative segments was cast and cut slightly on one end to make it slot over the rim of the vessel. It was joined to the vessel with four rivets, three of which survive (although one has lost its head). A modern restoration with resin was used to reinforce the join on one end of the element. The thin handle was hammered into shape and attached to two loops or perforated tabs on the spool-shaped element with rivets that are in relatively good condition.
Mineralization has caused many cracks and losses in the vessel. Some areas have been consolidated, such as the top of the boss and in the area with larger lacunae, where fiberglass and resin were used on the less visible sides. Green, blue, and reddish corrosion products as well as tan burial accretions cover the surface. In a few areas, such as the boss and various parts of the handle, fine black crystals of copper sulfide have developed due to post-excavation storage conditions. The remains of an old repair along the rim below the end of the spool element indicate that a strip of metal was riveted across the crack in the vessel wall. This metal strip is now missing (the crack is currently reinforced with a fine fiberglass and resin strip), and the two rivets have sheared off except for the corroded head of one of them, which projects into the interior of the vessel.
The large rim section previously associated with this phiale (now removed) is thicker at the edge than the vessel is. It is also rounded, while the vessel’s rim is flat. In view of these differences, this rim section probably does not belong to the vessel.
There are five other body fragments associated with the phiale but not attached. A small one of these has been worked with a pointed punch from the concave side in rows, and the pattern of this fragment indicates it is part of a larger shape; the patina is a mottled blue, green, and light and dark brown. A larger curved fragment is heavily mineralized with many cracks and a few lacunae due to corrosion; the patina is a mottled reddish brown with various greens and tan. A third fragment is thin and rough along the edges, but with a greener patina and some light blue. A fourth fragment has a more metallic appearance, particularly on the exterior, no doubt resulting from electrochemical treatment; this piece was consolidated and has green corrosion overall, with cupritic red mineral products especially along the fragile edges. The fifth piece is also heavily mineralized and appears to have been consolidated; it has green and blue corrosion products overall, with some metallic sheen and cupritic edges.
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)
