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Blueing of Steel
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I am a graduate student in art conservation and I am currently writing a condition report on a set of mid-19th century silverware. This is a decorative set which was never used. Each of the knives in the set has an etched/engraved picture of an historic city, with a finish coat of blueing on the steal blade. The blade was then gilded
(leaf perhaps) to accentuate the blueing design in the steal. I have not been able to find any good sources for how this technique would have been done, so I am hoping you can help me with these questions:
1) Do you have any idea how someone from 1830-1860 would have applied this technique to the steel blade? (these are beleived to have been manufactured in Germany)
2) I am assuming that the bluing was done first? Then covered in a release (such as wax) so that the etching/engraving could be done? Then the gilding? Would this be the correct sequence?
3) Do you have any idea what kind of conditions could remove the blueing from the surface? Is it an oxidative or reductive process?
Sorry for so many questions, but I am truely stuck and trying to determine what is the best method for preserving these pieces, as there is some active corrosion beginning to form on some of the blades and the blueing has disappeared on others. I'd be happy to send a picture if you'd like.
Winterthur Museum / Univeristy of DE - Wilmington, DE, US
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Blades are probably heated in special kiln,or maybe in so called bluing pan(pan filled with sand).Chemical process is possible too.Without some very good pictures anything more is hard to say-you can use microscope for more detailed description.There are 3 possible working sequences:1.etching -bluing -gilding or bluing - etching- gilding,or option 3. etching- gilding -bluing.If your production data are good blades can be electroplated or even chemically plated.To remove rust you can use only oil based rust removers(WD 40,Balistol,petroleum and parafine),but you must be very ,very careful,you can test it on some small blued steel plates,I think that is best way.Good luck and hope it helps!
Goran Budija- Zagreb, Croatia
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Try Conservation OnLine website-they have very good discussion list! Good luck and hope it helps!
Goran Budija- Zagreb, Croatia