Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Bronze:
Cu, 87.88; Sn, 9.99; Pb, 1.36; Zn, 0.005; Fe, 0.04; Ni, 0.13; Ag, 0.05; Sb, less than 0.05; As, 0.51; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.036; 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, silver, antimony, arsenic
K. Eremin, January 2014
Technical Observations: The patina is red with areas of green in the recesses. The surface has been aggressively cleaned, removing almost all the green patina and exposing the underlying red oxide; this process also resulted in some loss of surface detail. There is modern adhesive where the stone enters the bronze. Stone is visible in the hole with the securing pin, but it is not certain that it is the same as that of the existing handle.
The soft, freely formed shapes of the metal point to direct work to create the wax model. The hollow section extends only to the neck and was designed to accept the whetstone, which was secured with a pin through holes near the opening. The original securing pin appears to have survived. Rather than being peened tight into position, it was simply inserted and bent over at the ends, perhaps making it easier to remove it and replace the stone when needed. The edges of the holes are rounded and soft and appear to have been made in the model rather than drilled in the metal. There is possible evidence of cold working in the eyes, but the condition of the surface makes this difficult to determine.
Henry Lie (submitted 2012)
