Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Bronze:
Cu, 95.05; Sn, 2.47; Pb, 1.56; Zn, 0.086; Fe, 0.08; Ni, 0.04; Ag, 0.06; Sb, 0.21; As, 0.44; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.012; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer
Chemical Composition: XRF data from Tracer
Alloy: Bronze
Alloying Elements: copper, tin
Other Elements: lead, iron
K. Eremin, January 2014
Technical Observations: The rough surface is covered by light- to dark-green corrosion products and gray earthen remains, perhaps burial accretions or the remains of mold material, as well as what may be chalky growths.
The cart and animals were very loosely modeled by pinching and rolling wax. They were cast by the direct lost-wax process. The remains of what appears to be a sprue is preserved on the rump of each animal, although one of these has a rusty patch at its center that could indicate it contained an iron wire, which would not make sense for a sprue. The surface is very rough, not only as the result of corrosion and burial accretions but also because of the many large metal flashes that are still attached to the various forms. The flashes were produced when liquefied metal flowed into cracks or other crevices in the casting mold. The group does not appear to have been cold worked much if at all.
During initial examination, the group appeared to have been cast in one pour already united via the yoke. However, the slightly resinous green accretions around the joins between the yoke and horses fluoresced orange under ultraviolet light, confirming that they are shellac-based repairs. Without more information on the alloy and condition of the metal of the yoke, it is difficult to say whether it is original to the piece and merely a modern repair of a fragile join, or if it is an entirely new element.
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)
