M. Járó - L. Költő szerk.: Archaeometrical research in Hungary (Budapest, 1988)

Analysis - KÖLTŐ László, KIS VARGA Miklós: Composition analyisis of Roman age enamelled bronze objects

Table 1 Analytical results of enamels of Roman age enamelled bronze objects 1 ۥ[%] Fe[%] Cu[%] Zn[7

r

) Pb[%] Sr[%] Zrf%l Ag[%] Sn[%] Red-coloured enamels 1. Fibula (55.19.2.) 132 750 8.63 137 75.96 0.98 0.22 0.97 3.04 2. Clasp (105.894.12.) 2.52 080 10.15 20.21 3.14 58.96 1.22 035 0.11 254 3. 2.75 1.15 955 16.00 232 65.44 1JJ5 0.29 0.07 1.08 4. Fitting (56.893.7.) 1.16 4.14 49.69 5 59 34.81 0.21 0.15 0.07 3.88 Yellow-, orange-coloured enamels 5. Fitting (58593.7.) 5.00 6325 6.17 20.79 438 6. Capsule (96.896.4.) 1J4 11.75 2855 2.50 45.48 0.14 0.14 031 9.79 Blue-coloured enamels 7. Capsule (96.896.4.) 6.41 1.74 2059 2439 3.07 36.92 1.16 033 055 4.48 (Light blue) 8. 1.83 11.72 50.13 251 24.17 tr. tr. 0.45 8.48 White-coloured enamels 9. Capsule (96.896.4.) 1.76 2.96 5934 1.97 25.00 1.09 4.88 Others 10. Fibula (56.893.6.) 5.07 253 11.74 13.71 3.04 6258 1.03 tr. 11. Clasp (105594.12.) 051 3453 0.70 1156 — 0.04 4.09 Table 2 Composition of the basic metals [%] Inv. Nr. Ca Mn Fe Cu Zn Pb Sr Zr Ag Sn 1. 55.192. _ _ _ 762 _ 8.10 _ _ 0.08 15.7 2. 105594.12. 031 78.1 14.80 0.08 133 3. 56593.6. OM 63.1 26.70 0.10 10.1 4. 56.893.7. 056 812 720 630 0.07 53 s

. 96596.4. 1.20 685 0.96 10.40 022 195 6. 66506546. 1.09 91.7 055 1.16 554 &:? The relation can clearly be seen between calcium on the one hand, and strontium and zirconium on the other, while the absence of calcium is accompanied by the absence of the other two elements too, and in the case of more calcium the quantities of the other two elements are also greater. The absence of calcium and manganese in the case of the clasp originating from Szőny makes it certain that under the enamel a non-enamel type (priming, rilling) material was also used (Table 1,11). Unfortunately, except for the determination of the two red-coloured enamels, generally it is very hard to make assumptions with the method used. Namely, it was not possible to find such an element that is relevant for one special colour. The high content of iron of the enamels and, in spite of the basic metal disturbing effect, their high copper content, seems to confirm the earlier conclusion that the Roman non-transparent enamels generally contain iron oxide copper oxide colouring material [2], but the great lead content makes it probable that lead-oxide was used as flux.(Unfortunately, the method