Lead solder

In regard to the conservation of a pre-1700 piece of European
silver, I was recently told that lead solder from an earlier,
probably nineteenth-century repair *must* be removed. The reason
given: the lead and the silver react with one another in some way,
weakening the silver in the process. Is this, indeed, true? If so,
what is the nature of the reaction and what can be done to remedy
the situation? Any assistance or bibliographic references would be
greatly appreciated.

Scott Erbes
Curator of Decorative Arts
The Speed Art Museum
2035 South Third Street
Louisville, KY  40208
USA
502-634-2740
Fax: 502-636-2899

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:86
                   Distributed: Monday, May 10, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-12-86-021
                                  ***