Tátrai Vilmos szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei 95. (Budapest, 2001)
TÓTH, MÁRIA - BERTÓTI, IMRE - MOHAI, MIKLÓS - FÓRIZS, ISTVÁN -VOZIL, IRÉN: Material analysis of the bronze statuette of Imhotep
Samples taken from the statuette and their designations are as follows: 1-1. From the clothing of the sitting figure (between the legs) 1-2. From the footstool below the feet of the sitting figure (from the inner side of the footstool) 1-3. From the tenon of the footstool 1-4. From the chair 1-5. From the chair base We made efforts to take samples with low amount of impurities and as fresh and original as possible. RESULTS OF THE ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATIONS The crystalline phases of the metallic samples are listed in Table 1 with their relative ratios, while differences among the samples are illustrated by the X-ray diffractogram shown in Diagram 1. Table 1. Crystalline phases of the bronze statuette (on the basis of XRD studies) Cu 2 0 Cu ** * Based on X-ray diffractometry, the major constituent of the samples was identified as a solid solution of copper-tin (Cu, Sn). In addition to that, cuprite (Cu 2 0) and metallic copper (Cu) phases were identified. In the bronze material of the statuette the presence of metallic copper is evident in samples taken from the chair and its base, but metallic copper above the detection limit was not found or detected only in traces in samples taken from various parts of the body and the footstool. The quantity of cuprite is generally low, which is an indication of a low level of oxidic corrosion. The sample taken from the chair can be regarded as an exception (see curve "d" in Diagram 1.) where the quantity of cuprite is significant, but not comparable to the (Cu,Sn)- content of this sample. From the curve profiles of the Cu-Sn solid solution plotted both for the chair (see curve "d" in Diagram 1.) and for its base (see curve "e" in Diagram 1.), it can be concluded that the Cu/Sn ratio varied in this phase. From the details of X-ray diffractograms shown in Diagram 1., it can be seen that the samples taken from the footstool and from the clothing (diffractograms "a, b and c") Sample 1-1. 1-2. 1-3. 1-4. 1-5. Cu, Sn 4 *- For the relative abundance
