Ancient egyptian gold

Jewelry Discussion
1

Does anyone know how the ancient egyptians produced gold with
such a beautiful color. Was it a particular alloy of gold or is
it perhaps just the effect of time on the gold? How can I achieve
a similar effect?

2

Depletion gilding? Deplete the other components from the surface
for a gold-rich colour. Brian

Brian Adam ph/fx +64 9 817 6816 NEW ZEALAND
http://crash.ihug.co.nz/~adam/
http://www.optisearch.com

3 
 Does anyone know how the ancient egyptians produced gold with
such a beautiful color. Was it a particular alloy of gold or
is it perhaps just the effect of time on the gold? How can I
achieve a similar effect?

I remember somewhere that egyptian gold had a high copper
content, but I could be mistaken. I do know that the funery mask
of Tutenkommen was burnished not polished.

Larry Hammons

4

I think one of the reasons why ancient Egyptian gold has such a
beatiful colour is firstly: because it is so old, and secondly
becuase it is more or less pure gold. 24 carat. you could achieve
a similar effect by making something in 24 carat gold and then
burying it for 2000 years. No seriously you could get a similar
effect by using a high carat gold and polishing to a high finish.
Richard W UK

5 
 Does anyone know how the ancient egyptians produced gold with
such a beautiful color. Was it a particular alloy of gold or
is it perhaps just the effect of time on the gold? How can I
achieve a similar effect?

I remember somewhere that egyptian gold had a high copper
content, but I could be mistaken. I do know that the funery mask
of Tutenkommen was burnished not polished. >>

6 
I remember somewhere that egyptian gold had a high copper
content, but I could be mistaken.  I do know that the funery mask
of Tutenkommen was burnished not polished.

Both point to depletion gilding. Like with Pre-Columbian
‘tumbago’. Brian

Brian Adam ph/fx +64 9 817 6816 NEW ZEALAND
http://crash.ihug.co.nz/~adam/
http://www.optisearch.com

7

hey alex! ancient egyptians didn’t alloy their gold so it
stayed a deeper yellow color. it you were to make something in
24k gold it would be the same color. wsh

8 
  Does anyone know how the ancient egyptians produced gold with
such a beautiful color. Was it a particular alloy of gold or
is it perhaps just the effect of time on the gold? How can I
achieve a similar effect?

I remember somewhere that egyptian gold had a high copper
content, but I could be mistaken. I do know that the funery mask
of Tutenkommen was burnished not polished. >>

9 
Does anyone know how the ancient egyptians produced gold with
such a beautiful color. Was it a particular alloy of gold or is
it perhaps just the effect of time on the gold? How can I
achieve a similar effect?  I remember somewhere that egyptian
gold had a high copper content, but I could be mistaken.  I do
know that the funery mask of Tutenkommen was burnished not
polished. >>

Having seen various Egyption Exhibits (Cleveland Art Museum has
had many for many years, Chicago-( (Shedd?)) Natural History
Museum) Anyway, all the Egyptian jewelry is much more colorful
than the stuff that I’m wearing. I will assume that old gold
has more alloy . … don’t know what. Some is more yellow, some
is more red looking (producing a pink gold which was very popular
in Europe years ago.)

Tut’s mask was not very shiny (saw it more than once) I would
guess that it may have been burnished; but, perhaps, it has
merely tarnished with time???. But, burnishing doesn’t always
produce a more matted finish, in many cases, burnishing will
produce as much of a polish as will any mechanical (motor with
buff) method. I’ve used my burnisher to polish pieces which are
small and that I didn’t think would hold up well if I used the
buffer.

I haven’t been doing this for very long (three or so years) so I
may be mistaken. . …

10

When I first started, I reused my gold(14) over and over due to
mistakes in casting, etc…

Later, I showed a couple of finished pieces to my instuctor…
he was very impressed with the color of the gold and asked how
obtained such a rich color…

We more or less decided that I had burned out most of the minor
metals and the only mostly gold was left… a bit
expensive!!!

The results was very dark like the Egyptian gold…

Two cents worth…
Jim