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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
How was Blueing & Gilding of Historic Steel Flatware Set Done?
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Q. I am a graduate student in art conservation and I am currently writing a condition report on a set of mid-19th century silverware. This is a decorative set which was never used. Each of the knives in the set has an etched/engraved picture of an historic city, with a finish coat of blueing on the steel blade. The blade was then gilded (leaf perhaps) to accentuate the blueing design in the steel. I have not been able to find any good sources for how this technique would have been done, so I am hoping you can help me with these questions:
1) Do you have any idea how someone from 1830-1860 would have applied this technique to the steel blade? (these are believed to have been manufactured in Germany)
2) I am assuming that the bluing was done first? Then covered in a release (such as wax) so that the etching/engraving could be done? Then the gilding? Would this be the correct sequence?
3) Do you have any idea what kind of conditions could remove the blueing from the surface? Is it an oxidative or reductive process?
Sorry for so many questions, but I am truly stuck and trying to determine what is the best method for preserving these pieces, as there is some active corrosion beginning to form on some of the blades and the blueing has disappeared on others. I'd be happy to send a picture if you'd like.
Winterthur Museum - Wilmington, Delaware, USA
2006
A. Blades are probably heated in special kiln,or maybe in so called bluing pan (pan filled with sand). Chemical process is possible too. Without some very good pictures anything more is hard to say -- you can use microscope for more detailed description.There are 3 possible working sequences:
1. etching -bluing -gilding or
2. bluing - etching- gilding,or option
3. etching- gilding -bluing.
If your production data are good blades they can be electroplated or even chemically plated. To remove rust you can use only oil based rust removers ( WD-40 ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , Balistol, petroleum and paraffin),but you must be very, very careful; you can test it on some small blued steel plates, I think that is the best way.
Try Conservation OnLine website -- they have very good discussion list! Good luck and hope it helps!
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2006
Hi. I visited the beautiful Winterthur Museum but didn't remember this letter as I was looking at all the cool stuff, and don't even know if this set was on exhibit when I went. So, sorry, no pictures available :-(
If people came to this site looking for information on bluing / black oxiding of firearms and such, please search the site with those terms, as we have several very highly informative threads on that from hands-on gunsmiths.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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