There's a whole branch of conservation science involving non-destructive testing, mostly of surfaces. Years ago I worked with some of them but the names are not in my memory bank. You can do what I would do and get on the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) website and ask someone to refer you to people who do non-destructive testing of artifacts. A lot of this is for surface pesticide contamination, but it should work for your purposes as well.
From: Mike Fisher <mfisher**At_Symbol_Here**CECON.COM>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2015 11:02 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Artifacts
Perhaps contact the Chemical Heritage Foundation (
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.chemheritage.org_&d=BQIGaQ&c=lb62iw4YL4RFalcE2hQUQealT9-RXrryqt9KZX2qu2s&r=meWM1Buqv4IQ27AlK1OJRjcQl09S1Zta6YXKalY_Io0&m=82xyEoxauy1ZSq9wgSq0dvh2aiWJRwXcWiiMOBz2ojM&s=9rkoGPJESb1DAHYNAIjIfnAzw6A1xkC5ff5NUQOUdL8&e=
)? They have a museum, and while not dealing with something as old as your
"client", they might have a useful chemical perspective.
Michael C.
Fisher
Group Manager
CECON LLC
242 N. James Street, Suite 202
Wilmington,
DE 19804-3168
302.994.8000
302.994.8837 fax
mfisher**At_Symbol_Here**cecon.com
www.cecon.com
Experts at Finding Technical
Experts=E2=84=A2
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List
[mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Richardson, Nancy A
Sent: Friday,
October 23, 2015 7:49 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L]
Artifacts
Someone asked our department for "help to identify the substance
that some artifacts are made of. We have two artifacts that are made from an
unknown substance and are reacting with either the air, or the glass, and
leaving odd stains on the glass in the exhibits."
We asked for more
information and the person said . "I think they are from the Late Roman Period
but their authenticity I question. However, it's just a gut feeling and I have
nothing that proves they are not authentic. They were found in the land of
Israel but we are not sure where as they were purchased in a store."
Would
anyone have a suggestion about this?
Thanks,
Nancy
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