Unrolling a lead scroll

Lucy Skinner <lucy.skinner [at] gmail__com> writes

>I am working as site conservator on an archaeological dig in Turkey
>where a small lead object was excavated last week. It is a strip of
>thin lead, rolled up and squashed flat during burial. ...
>...
>I have
>considered electrolytic reduction to convert the crust of lead
>carbonate back to metallic lead and heating the lead to soften it
>before attempting to unroll it. ...

A.E. Werner published an article "Two problems in the conservation
of antiquities: corroded lead and brittle silver" in the series
Application of Science in Examination of Works of Art (1965, MFA
Boston).  This article covers electrolytic treatment and unrolling
of a corroded lead scroll at the British Museum.

Gregory Dale Smith, Ph.D.
Otto N. Frenzeli III
Senior Conservation Scientist
Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Road
Indianapolis IN 46208-3326
317-923-1331 ext. 154
Fax: 317-931-1978


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 25:15
                Distributed: Tuesday, September 20, 2011
                       Message Id: cdl-25-15-016
                                  ***