36320
Accession Number
5507
Title Of Article Chaper
Non-destructive x-ray fluorescence analysis of ancient bronze mirrors excavated in Japan
Title Of Journal Book
Ars Orientalis
Volume
11
Pages
195-213
Language Of Text
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
Over 2500 bronze mirrors made either in China or Japan have been excavated from Japanese tombs of the Yayoi and Tumulus periods. Chinese mirrors differ from the Japanese ones in style, manufacturing techniques, and composition (Chinese: 60-75% Cu, 17-30% Sn, and 3-7% Pb; Japanese: 70-90% Cu, 2-20% Sn, and 3-8% Pb). In an attempt to distinguish the two types by analysis without sampling, Sn/Pb ratios were determined by analyzing 1.5 cm spots on the surface with x-ray fluorescence. Results correlate well with those from wet analysis and those previously reported. While the two groups overlap where the ratio Sn/Pb is about 2.0-3.0, the provenance of about 80% of the mirrors can be quite reliably distinguished.
Keywords
Bronze, analysis; Spectroscopy, x ray fluorescence; Bronze, metallography; Mirror, bronze ICCROM
pub_id
36320