It sounds like it would make a somewhat purple alloy. The initial ingredients are similar to niello, with the exception of the mercury. Perhaps a sort of niello of copper? If we assume the fine pewter referred to is a lead/tin mix, adding sulphur would make a mixture of lead and tin sulphate. I don't know what the mercury is supposed to do, besides gas off. Lead sulphate + tin sulphate + copper would give you a sort of leaded bronze with a high sulphur content, no? I'd imagine it could be patinated rather like some of the Japanese copper alloys.
Noorts was a Dutch alchemist/jeweler/metalsmith, wasn't he? Seems like I've seen the name with reference to a niello formula.
>>> Dan Brower <[log in to unmask]> 11/8/2007 1:07 PM >>>
But do you have any clue to what it is? I have looked at the proportions and
it does not seem to make any sense. Do you know what it was used for? I
think decorative, but who knows. I also found a listing of "noorts of
copper".
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Hutchison" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 4:17 PM
Subject: Re: 18th century copper
> Thank you Dan. That is much better than anything else I have found. Peter
>
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