Decorative surfaces produced on metals in the Middle East, Egypt, South America and the Far East reveal a rich knowledge of chemical and metallurgical reactions. In addition to mechanical surface treatments, chemical etching and cementation-diffusion reactions were used decoratively in the 3rd millenium B. C. Metallographic studies of many objects are described, and the Early literature containing metal-coloring recipes is discussed, including its relation to alchemy. -- AATA