A Scientific Study of Inlaid Iron Statuettes from 12th-16th Century AD

Abstract

This paper aims at examining and analyzing Egyptian inlaid metallic statuettes from 12th-16th century AD. This inlaid statuettes exhibited in the museum of Faculty of Applied Arts in Cairo. Examination and analysis were performed using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM-EDX examination showed that the bodies of two statuettes are made of cast iron alloy and inlaid with brass alloy, the brass strips were flaking and detachment. The XRD results revealed the dominant phases were goethite (α-FeO(OH)), akagantite and magnetite specially on the internal statuettes surfaces. The study allowed establishing the manufacture technology and its effect on chemical alteration and physical damage processes. This study may help to assessment and understand the corrosion process or corrosive environmental condition affected on the inlaid metallic statuettes.

Keywords

• cast iron; inlaid statuettes; corrosion; om; sem-edx; xrd