Boar

ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Leaded Bronze: Cu, 85.07; Sn, 10.69; Pb, 4.02; Zn, 0.022; Fe, 0.07; Ni, 0.01; Ag, 0.04; Sb, 0.08; As, less than 0.10; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, less than 0.005; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001 J. Riederer

The patina is brown, and there are several small spots of a thick black, possibly organic, coating overall. The remnants of this black material seem to lie over a red cupritic layer, which is a bright magenta in a few areas. The few areas of light green corrosion seem to lie under this red layer. These layers are somewhat unusual, since the cuprite layer is more commonly found under the green malachite one. The breaks on the boar’s ears are covered with a black and brown material that conceals the surface. The proper back left hoof, which was polished and drilled for sampling, has a bright metallic sheen and shows no signs of corrosion, nor does the polished underside of the front hooves, which also seem to have been prepared for drilling. Some horizontal chisel marks are visible on the back of the upper legs. The hole in the back of the proper right leg is more likely a casting flaw or porosity than evidence of a hollow cast, although this is not certain. There is also porosity on the back of the front hooves and on the underside of the belly. This area seems to have been repaired with a metal patch between the genitals and the threaded mounting pin that attached to the proper right rear hoof. One ear is missing half its original size; the other is cracked and bent back. The boar was cast by the lost-wax process. The weight of the figure and examination of the material inside a hole in the back leg indicate that the boar is solid, but there also appears to be a patch on the torso, which might suggest a cast-in repair. X-radiography could help to resolve whether it is a solid or hollow cast. The semicircular indentations along the crest of the back could have been made by cutting out the shapes or by pushing in the material, although there is no evidence of excess wax being displaced by pressure. The surface is rough. In some cases, it appears to be as cast with no further alterations; in others, there is a semblance of dendritic structure, which would suggest etching of some kind, perhaps from cleaning after excavation. Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2011)