Fragment of an Aegis of Neïth 1886.305.0096 - Leaded Bronze

Fragment of an Aegis of Neïth 1886.305.0096 - Leaded Bronze

Fragment of an Aegis of Neïth 1886.305.0096

Line. Pedersen (HE-Arc, Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland) & Christian. Degrigny (HE-Arc CR, Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland) & Valentin. Boissonnas (HE-Arc CR, Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

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Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen

Fig. 1: Fragment of an Aegis of Neïth. From left to right: front, side view and back respectively,

Fragment of an aegis surmounted by the head of Neith, the Egyptian goddess of war (Fig. 1). Traces of leaf gilding is still present in certain areas (Fig. 3). The lower part of the collar and the upper part of the crown are broken (Fig. 2 and 4). The surface is covered with a thick and hard, green-brown corrosion crust (Fig. 2, 3 and 4). A cross-section was studied on the lower edge that was broken after excavation. Dimensions: L = 96mm; W = 72mm; T = 40mm; WT = 216g.    

sculpture

ancient Egypt

Purchased at the end of the 19th, probably from the art market. Date of excavation unknown.

None

Unknown

Bernisches Historisches Museum (BHM), Bern, Bern

Bernisches Historisches Museum (BHM), Bern, Bern

1886.305.0096

N/A

Complementary information

None.

Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 2: Front face of the aegis with location of XRF measurements (blue spots), powder sample (red square) and gilding remains on the surface (blue square),

Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 3: Remains of foil-gilding on the corroded surface,

Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 4: Side view of the aegis with location of XRF measurements (blue spots),

Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 5: Back face of the aegis with location of XRF measurement (blue spot) and powder samples (red squares),

The schematic representation below gives an overview of the corrosion layers encountered on the aegis from a first visual macroscopic inspection.

Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 6: Preliminary stratigraphy 1, corresponding to the front face of the aegis. S = soil, D = deposit, M = metal, CP = corrosion products, SV = structural void,

Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 7: Preliminary stratigraphy 2, corresponding to the back face of the aegis and interior (below part). S = soil, D = deposit, M = metal, CP = corrosion products, SV = structural void,

Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 8: Preliminary stratigraphy 3, corresponding to the area of the back face of the aegis with a well-preserved limit of original surface. S = soil, D = deposit, M = metal, CP = corrosion products,

Fig.9: Schematic representation combining stratigraphies 1 and 2 under binocular microscope and using the MiCorr application. The characteristics of the strata are only accessible by clicking on the drawing that redirects you to the search tool by stratigraphy representation, Credit He-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.
Fig.10: Schematic representation of stratigraphy 3 under binocular microscope and using the MiCorr application. CP1 is CP6 in Fig. 8. The characteristics of the strata are only accessible by clicking on the drawing that redirects you to the search tool by stratigraphy representation, Credit He-Arc CR, L. Pedersen.

Only samples of corrosion products were taken. For sampling locations, see Figs. 2-5.

Leaded Bronze

As-cast, engraving, (glass?) inlay, gilding with gold foil.

None

HE-Arc CR, Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel

HE-Arc CR, Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel

April 11th 2017, chemical and molecular analyses

Complementary information

None.

Analyses performed:
X-ray Tomography of the entire object with MICRODETECT system: 1600 projections of 2000x2000pixels, V = 280kV, I = 100uA, filter of copper (0.5mm) and aluminium (2mm), integration time per projection: 3s/image x 2 images, total time acquisition: 1600 x 6s and distance source-detector: 1225mm. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) on the object without sampling under the corrosion crust and on cross-section with portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (NITON XL3t 950 Air GOLDD+ analyser, ThermoFischer®). X-Ray diffraction (XRD) on corrosion products sampled.  Data collected was performed using Mo-Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073Å, beam diameter 0.5mm) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns measured on a Stoe Mark II-Imaging Plate Diffractometer System equipped with a graphite-monochromator. Two-dimensional diffraction images (10min per exposure) were obtained at an image plate distance of 200mm with a continued sample rotation. Resolution of Dmax 24.00 and Dmin 1.04Å and intensity integration performed over the entire image (360°).

The metal (M2 in Fig.9 and M1 in Fig. 10) was analysed on the broken edge of the bottom of the artefact where despite a highly corroded surface, the metal seems to be the best preserved. The XRF analyses revealed that the metal is a leaded bronze with remains of gold leaf on the surface (Table 1, Au was detected in the measurement spots 4,5 and 6) (Scott 2002; Gouda 2012; Mohammed 2012).

Elements mass (%)

Areas

Cu

 

Pb

 

Sn

 

Sb

 

Ag

 

Zn

 

Ni

 

Pd

 

Au

 

Si

 

Al

 

Fe

 

S

 

Ti

 

P

 

Cd

 
1 68.9 9.5 0.2 0.06 

<  

 < 0.04 < < 13.4 3.7 1.4 2.2 0.2 0.3 <
2 78.1 12.3 2.4 0.3 0.2 < 0.1 < < 2.8 1.8 1.9 < 0.1 < <
3 83.3 11.6 1.4 0.2 < < 0.04 < < 1.4 1.3 0.5 < 0.05 < <
4 80.6 11.4 0.5 < 0.2 0.08 0.1 0.1 0.9 < < 2.1 < 0.5 < 0.1
5 76.5 11.3 0.5 < 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.2 6.6 < < 2.8 < 0.7 < 0.2
6 89.8 5.6 0.2 < 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.1 1.8 < < 1.1 < 0.2 < 0.08

Table 1: Chemical composition of the aegis in the areas located on figures 2, 4 and 5. Method of analysis: portable XRF, acquisition time 60s. Areas 1-3: mode general metal, 20/20/20s. Areas 4-6: mode precious metal, credit MiCorr_HE-Arc CR, C.Degrigny.

The metal seems to be a leaded bronze with remains of gold leaf on the surface (Table 1).

As indicated by the X-ray tomography, the metal of the aegis seems to be well preserved (Figs. 11-12).

Credit Empa, M.Plamondon

Fig. 11: X-ray tomography by cross section of the crown showing a dense and non-porous metal core (blue arrows). The corrosion products however are porous (red arrows). The external limitos is visible as a fine line preserved under corrosion layers,

Credit Empa, M.Plamondon.

Fig. 12: X-ray tomography by cross section of the lower part showing that there are losses of the original surface (red square),

Dendritic structure

Cu

Sn, Sb, Pb

Complementary information

None.

The corrosion crust covers the whole object and is heterogenous. It is formed by multiple layers which are particularly hard and can hardly be removed with the scalpel. The corrosion can be divided into three main layers: an outer green layer followed by a dense and hard red layer, followed by a black layer that contains corresponding markers and the limit of the original surface. In some areas this sequence is regular and clear. In other areas the limitos has been replaced by more porous green-red corrosion products which do not contain any corresponding markers. In certain areas the limitos and internal corrosion layers have been replaced by structural voids. XRD analysis (Table 2) of these different layers indicates that the upper hard and thick, green corrosion product (Figs. 13-14, CP1.1 and 1.2 in Figs. 6-7) is composed of copper oxychlorides: atacamite and paratacamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3) (Fig. 21). The next layer (CP2) is more powdery and light green in colour (Figs. 15-16). XRD analysis also identified this product as atacamite and paratacamite (Fig. 22). During the removal of the green and red corrosion layers we found a white and waxy corrosion product close to the original surface. This observation and the presence of high amounts of copper oxychlorides led us to identify this white corrosion product as nantokite (CuCl). The localized light blue corrosion product (CP6 in Fig. 8, CP1 in Fig. 10) present in one area on the back (Figs. 17-18) was identified as chalconatronite (Na2Cu(CO3)2·3H2O) (Fig. 23). The red corrosion layer (CP3) below the copper oxychlorides and above the dark black original surface (Figs. 19-20) was identified as a mixture of cuprite (Cu2O) as major coumpound and tenorite (CuO) as minor coumpound (Fig. 24). It is possible that the tenorite was a contamination from the black surface below the cuprite layer.

Strata Components
CP1.1 and CP1.2 Paratacamite, Atacamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3)
CP2 Paratacamite, Atacamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3)
CP4 Cuprite (Cu2O), Tenorite (CuO)
CP6 Chalconatronite (Na2Cu(CO3)2·3H2O)

Table 2: Chemical composition of the corrosion products. Analytical method: XRD, credit MiCorr_Empa, A.Neels.

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 13: Observation of the dark green corrosion product,

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 14: Dark green corrosion product identified as paratacamite, atacamite Cu2Cl(OH)3 by XRD. Microscopic examination under polarized light,

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 15: Observation of the light green corrosion product,

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 16: Light green corrosion product identified as paratacamite, atacamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3) by XRD. Microscopic examination under polarized light,

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 17: Observation of the light blue corrosion product,

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 18: Light blue corrosion product identified as chalconatronite Na2Cu(CO3)2·3H2O by XRD. Microscopic examination under polarized light,

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 19: Observation of the red corrosion product above the black original surface containing corresponding markers such as engravings,

Credit HE-Arc CR, L.Pedersen.

Fig. 20: Dark red corrosion product identified as cuprite Cu2O as major component and tenorite CuO as minor component. Microscopic examination under polarized light,

Credit Empa, A.Neels.

Fig. 21: XRD spectrum of the sample of the dark green corrosion product showing the presence of atacamite and paratacamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3) as major compound and cuprite (Cu2O) as minor compound,

Credit Empa, A.Neels.

Fig. 22: XRD spectrum of the sample from the light green corrosion product showing the presence of atacamite and paratacamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3) as major compound and cuprite (Cu2O) as minor compound,

Credit Empa, A.Neels.

Fig. 23: XRD spectrum of the sample from the light blue corrosion product showing the presence of chalconatronite (Na2Cu(CO3)2 · 3H2O). The other compounds are analysis supposition, but are not relevant,

Credit Empa, A.Neels.

Fig. 24: XRD spectrum of the sample from the dark red corrosion product showing the presence of cuprite (Cu2O) as major compound and tenorite (CuO) as minor compound,

Multiform

Type II (Robbiola)

Complementary information

The corrosion layers are thick and very hard due to the burial context which was probably rich in chlorides. From the top to the bottom of the corrosion layers, there is a large amount of dark and light green corrosion product identified as copper oxychlorides followed by a layer of red corrosion product identified as copper oxide (cuprite) and a dark red corrosion layer identified as copper oxide (tenorite). In certain localised areas we were able to identify chalconatronite, a light blue corrosion product typically formed by natron salt from the Egyptian soil. Due to the presence of manufacturing traces and engravings, the limit of the original surface is localised mainly in the dark red corrosion layer. In certain areas there are remains of gilding-foil identified as gold by XRF elemental analysis. The foil is preserved on the top of the corrosion layer. Because gold is a noble metal, it had not corroded and was lifted by the corrosion products of the copper alloy. Thus, the limit of the original surface is displaced in some areas (Fig. 6, see limitos).

None.

Based on the observation of the broken edge and the tomography we are able to determine that the remaining metal is well preserved. The alloy was identified by XRF as a leaded copper alloy. The corrosion stratigraphy and the presence of a large amount of dark and light green powdery corrosion product identified as copper chlorides indicate a Robbiola Type 2 corrosion. In some areas the limit of the original surface is well preserved and reveals a highly decorated surface. In other areas the latter did not survive and was replaced by structural voids or porous red-green corrosion products. The nature of the different corrosions products and the metal, match with what was found in other studies of Egyptian bronzes (Scott 2002; Gouda 2012). Concerning the presence of tenorite on the original surface, tenorite generally forms if the object is exposed to high temperature or if it was intentionally heated to patinate the surface. In ancient Egyptian, heat was typically used to obtain black bronze. Tenorite is known as a corrosion product on other Egyptian black bronzes (Mohammed 2012). It is likely that the Aegis has been artificially patinated. The fact that it was most certainly partly gilded reinforces this hypothesis to reach colour contrasts.

References on object and sample

References object
1. Scott, D. and Swartz Dodd, L. (2002) Examination, conservation and analysis of a gilded Egyptian Osiris". Journal of Cultural Heritage, 3, 333-345.
2. Gouda, V.K. et al. (2012) Characterization of Egyptian bronze archaeological artifacts”. Surf. Interface Anal., 44, 1338-1345.
3. Mohammed, W. and Darweesh, S. (2012) Ancient Egyptian Black-Patinated Copper alloys". Archaeometry, 54, 175-192.