Mercury silvering
653000
213816612
2008-05-20T22:53:49Z
Andy Dingley
3606755
cat
{{Unreferenced|date=April 2008}}
{{orphan|date=November 2007}}
'''Mercury silvering''' or '' 'fire gilding' '' is a [[Silvering|technique]] for applying a thin layer of [[precious metal]] such as [[silver]] or [[gold]] (mercury [[gilding]]) to a base metal object. The process was invented during the Middle Ages and is documented in [[Vannoccio Biringuccio|Vannoccio Biringuccio's]] [[1540]] book ''De la pirotechnia''. An amalgam of [[mercury (element)|mercury]] and the precious metal is prepared and applied to the object which is then heated, sometimes in [[oil]], [[vapor]]izing most of the mercury. The technique is dangerous since mercury is highly toxic. Mercury silvering can be detected on through a variety methods.
==See also==
* [[Mercury glass]], a variety of reflective products having the element mercury sandwiched between two glass panes
* [[Mercury mirror]], a parabolic shape telescope dish having a layer of reflective mercury
* [[Silvering]], a technique to apply a thin layer of a precious metal to a base metal object
==External links==
* http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/science/text/treasure/sr-treasure-p4-t.html
[[Category:Chemical processes]]
[[Category:Silversmithing]]
[[Category:Silver]]
[[Category:Mirrors]]
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