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]] {{industry-stub}}