Medieval metalwork: an analytical study of copper-alloy objects

Abstract

Copper-alloy objects of the medieval and early post-medieval periods were analysed to establish whether there was any pattern to the alloy compositions used, as a function of object type, or date or place of manufacture. Objects from NW Europe, of 12th–17th century date and mostly at least partly utilitarian, showed compositional correlations, to the extent that characteristic compositions were identifiable for some regions for the late medieval and early post-medieval periods. A method is presented of displaying compositions graphically which proved useful in exploring the phenomenon of alloy evolution. The use of scrap metal of unknown pedigree seems not to have been usual; the few instances of such practice can usually be recognised. It has been shown that dating and provenancing (in broad terms) is possible for many object types using alloy compositional data.

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