Surface spectroscopic studies on patinas of ancient metal objects

Abstract

Surface examination by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectrosopy has beenemployed to investigate the patinas on Lorenzo Ghiberti’s ‘Door of Paradise’from the Florence Baptistry and one of the so-called Riace bronzes. These techniques and the related depth profiling technique are described; the results gave interesting information on thestate of conservation, the original manufacturing process and the possible original appearance.