Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Bronze:
Cu, 85.31; Sn, 13.9; Pb, 0.32; Zn, 0.029; Fe, 0.08; Ni, 0.05; Ag, 0.03; Sb, 0.07; As, 0.17; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.043; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer
Technical Observations: The corrosion products have been electrolytically stripped from the surface and corrosion pits, leaving the surface of this vessel a bright brass-colored metal. Several pits contain a small amount of what could be original green corrosion products. There is a transparent oxide layer on the final three-quarters of the handle, which makes it appear redder than the rest of the object. The redder color of that section of the handle was probably caused by the cleaning process rather than a fabrication join or a difference in alloy. A brittle fracture surface on the tip of the decorative finial at the end of the handle indicates that part of this element has been lost. Holes on one side are the result of corrosion.
Hammer marks visible in raking light indicate the object was raised rather than cast. Circular abrasion marks on the inner and outer surfaces are the result of finishing the surface by turning. Fine repetitive indentations on the sides of the handle probably result from scraping these surfaces to smooth them. There is a slight bulge in the interior of the bowl in the area of the handle, but there is no evidence on the surface that a join exists at this location.
Henry Lie (submitted 2001)
