The report describes a technical investigation of approximately 3000 year old bronze objects in the Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art conducted by the Analytical Chemistry Division of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis.
This document details a technical investigation of approximately 3,000-year-old bronze objects from the Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The study involved a cooperative effort between materials analysts, curators, and conservators to examine the artifacts using x-radiography and chemical analysis.
The analyses can be accomplished with only 15 milligrams of alloy.
Samples were removed using a small No. 60 steel drill bit.
The study determined copper, tin, lead and zinc using AAS.