Collections Online | British Museum

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Treatment; 04 Feb 1998; Remove encrustations to reveal detail around head area.; Metals

Reason: Permanent Exhibition
Description: Removed corrosion with scalpel concentrating on areas around head: armour, eyes, collar, etc. Attempts to steam clean did nothing to improve condition. Brushing with Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol) caused a bloom to appear, suggesting a waxy layer so continued brushing with white spirit. Object was left for several hours so white spirit could evaporate. Minute amounts of Renaissance wax (cosmolloid 80H-microcrystalline wax,BASF hard wax "A"-polyethylene wax,white spirit) were applied to subdue very mottled appearance.
Details: Treatment