A Case Study of Copper-Arsenic Ewer from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

This paper presents an analytical study and treatment of an Arsenical Copper ewer from old kingdom stored in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Examination and analysis were carried out by using optical microscopy (OM), metallographic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicated that ewer was made of copper-arsenic alloy; it had intended black layer which referred to the fertile soil. The ewer was made by cold-working and the spout was joined mechanically; it has three layers of alteration products with various compositions and morphology covering the substrate of the alloy. XRD results indicated that the ewer was subjected to many corrosive ions such as chloride and sulfur. This study provides useful information that helped in preserving this unique ewer.