Hi,<br>
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I bought this for $1 to add to me Aquincum helmet as a helmet carrier- I like the idea of a real piece of Roman equipment being included. The question is- should I clean it up (if so, how), or should I leave the original patina on?<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/PaulHB/BronzeRomanhandle1stC.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
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If the photo link doesn't work, it is also at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... RK:MEWN:IT
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I'd value your advice!<br>
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Paulus <p></p><i></i>
One Dollar!!!???<br>
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I wouldn't use it on your helmet and risk loosing it or damaging it. It may only have cost 1 $, but as you know every single Roman artifact, no matter how small or insignificant, is priceless.<br>
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Using it to make a very good reproduction, is the way I would go, adding the original to my collection afterwords.<br>
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Does your source have more 1$ pieces?<br>
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Greetings,<br>
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Jurgen/Quintilianus <p></p><i></i>
I bought it off hailcesare.com, New Empire Antiquities via ebay. Try this link cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...ail-cesare<br>
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I don't see any more $1 items though....... <p></p><i></i>
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My advice would be to save it, put it on display! quintilianus put it very well<br>
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But to start a collection of Roman artifacts would be cool <p></p><i></i>
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Yes look after it. If you used it there may well be internal deterioration and use cause it to break.Leave the patina on and store it supported in a plastic box packed with foam or non acidic tissue paper.Keep it dry and avoid handling with bare hands. <p></p><i></i>
Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus
Thanks for the advice guys! How would you recommend that I take a mould off it? Latex/ rubber?<br>
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Cheers<br>
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Paulus <p></p><i></i>
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Hi Paulus,<br>
Yes, I think silicone rubber might be the best way to go, and perhaps the least likely to damage the piece. There are a number of places that sell raw silicone rubber mold "slabs" that are meant to be vulcanized, but unless the piece is pretty solid and stable, I'm not sure I would go with the vulcanized type, as it involves heat and pressure to the piece as the rubber vulcanizes, although if I remember correctly, the rubber is vulcanized at a relatively low temperature. I make toy soldiers and use the vulcanized slabs to make my molds for them.<br>
There is also liquid latex, which can be brushed on in layers to make a mold, that might be the best method. It doesn't involve heat or anything to make the mold, you just brush it on one layer at a time until you build up a thick enough wall of rubber, and then peel it off when it's dry. <p>Lucius Aurelius Metellus, draconarius, Secunda Brittanica</p><i></i>
Lucius Aurelius Metellus
a.k.a. Jeffrey L. Greene
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Ave, Paullus!<br>
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I came close to doing the very same thing (mounting a real Roman helmet handle on my Italic G) last year, but was talked out of it by my comilitones, who thought it was horrible for me to even contemplate such a thing. But, since I'm somewhat jaded about antiquities (I deal in all kinds of high-end stuff), and I know just how common things like helmet handles and belt plates are (they are found in truly astonishing numbers by metal detectorists all over Europe!), I thought-- and still think!-- it would be cool to put a genuine Roman artifact back to the use for which it was originally designed. In a way, that honors the memory of the original user better than sticking it an box and setting it on a shelf.<br>
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Normally, I'd just tell you to knock the patina off with a wire brush on a Dremel tool and stick it on your helmet (it looks like you have one of the original split rings in place as well, so it would be an easy matter to copy it for the second one); however, it does look like there are a couple areas of red cuprite, plus one spot where it looks like a chunk of the metal has flaked off. This may indeed mean the metal inside is crystallized and prone to cracking and/or breaking under heavy use. You could consolidate the metal by heating it with a propane torch (which would also burn off the patina!), but if a significant portion of it has turned to cuprite, this can't be remedied by heating. So, if you don't want to risk breaking it, it might be a better idea to make a cast of it and use that (oddly enough, unless you are experienced at casting metal, this will end up costing you way more than the artifact itself!).<br>
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T. Flavius Crispus<br>
Leg VI VPF<br>
CA, USA<br>
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<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p200.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=flaviuscrispus@romanarmytalk>FlaviusCrispus</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/legiovi/vwp?.dir=/Flavius+photo&.src=gr&.dnm=flavhead2.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 2/1/05 1:28 am<br></i>
T. Flavius Crispus / David S. Michaels
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Quote:</em></strong><hr>it would be cool to put a genuine Roman artifact back to the use for which it was originally designed.<hr><br>
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No, don't do it. When it breaks it can't be replaced; it's precious, no matter how cheap it may be right now. Unless you're planning on a rise in price of such things when they're all broken <p></p><i></i>
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
ACK! I would not advice putting on an actual piece on your kit...No matter how cool. It's been sitting around for over 2,000 years...It has to be pretty fragile by now.<br>
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Could it be possible instead, if you absolutely needed/wanted to mount it to something - to mount it to a repro helmet and have as a display piece?<br>
But even if you attempted that, there is still a very high risk of breakage, and there could be a nasty chemical reaction of the ancient and modern metals....<br>
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I'd find some way to get a really good copy made and use the copy. Something so cool like that should be preserved.<br>
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And...For $1....I *really* have to wonder the source...I'd just hate to think you got jipped by an illegal excavation or possibly a stolen artifact from an excavation site?! <p></p><i></i>
Agreed- I won't mount it...I couldn't cause that much pain to my fellow RATters.......<br>
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As I've never moulded metal before, is there someone who would do this and make me a copy in return for keeping the mould to make as many copies as they liked? Obviously, I'd like the original back as well!<br>
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"I *really* have to wonder the source...I'd just hate to think you got jipped by an illegal excavation or possibly a stolen artifact from an excavation site?! " Me too....but it was mis-categorised by the NY dealer as a Roman chest handle and so attracted zero interest at auction. On the other hand , it could really be a chest handle- though it would fit perfectly the helmet neck guard and combines the helmet handle designs shown in Robinson.<br>
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Cheers<br>
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Paulus <p></p><i></i>
interesting! Well it certainly is a splending find/discovery/"steal" <p>Titus Vulpius Dominicus ~ Your Friendly Neighborhood Roman Dude.<br>
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Svaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re (Soft in Manner, Strong in Deed)<br>
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www.higgins.org <br>
www.higginssword.org </p><i></i>
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