Even if you do just want to display it, part of the reason that a patina is valued is because most folks find it pretty. And in many cases, it can actually accentuate detail, since the outermost surfaces will have naturally been slightly polished over the years.
Top rack only though!
We’re talking about bronze here. Do you really think this, for example, was meant to be polished regularly to keep it shiny? If so, why don’t we do that?
Sadly, that is the abridged edition. The piece was intended for The Gates of Hell.
And this one has been through the gates of Hell.
The thing is, cleaning a metal object isn’t a neutral thing–what you are doing is either physically scraping or chemically eroding the oxidized layer from the object. It may look nice on the macro level, but you have added countless microscopic scratches or pits to the surface. And you have removed a layer of the original metal (the part that has oxidized) and exposed a new layer (which had been protected by the oxidized layer) to itself be oxidized. Meaning that it will have to be cleaned again in the future. Doing more irreversible damage, stripping another layer of the original metal. Constantly cleaning a metal object is guaranteeing that it won’t last another 2,000 to 5,000 years and it absolutely would not have lasted that long in the first place if it had been in constant use instead of buried in the ground. How sad that, for mistaking your temporary stewardship of an ancient object for a “right” to alter it however you please, you are accelerating the destruction of the object denying future generations of appreciating it.
I could use the same argument with retired beanie babies. Don’t clean them, you’ll wear it out and it won’t be there for future generations.
Yes, its really old. But Roman era bronze bracelets are not that rare, usually not that valuable, nor necessarily that well made - unless this is for some reason unusual. There are plenty of them for future generations to enjoy.
(I still wouldn’t clean it myself, but I find the “stewardship” argument to be ridiculous. Then again, I wouldn’t own it - I don’t need crap junking up my house - even ancient crap - unless its useful or has sentimental value to me. There are thousands of these in museums all over the world that are being carefully preserved and curated by professionals - that isn’t RichardMcRae’s responsibility. But I may have a different perspective, my in-laws have cabinets full of ancient Roman junk (including bracelets, earrings, cloak clasps and coins up the wazoo, plus pottery, sculpture - all sorts of stuff - as I said, there isn’t a shortage of ancient Roman artifacts) that eventually it will become my responsibility to find a home for. These things are part of my everyday reality.)
It’s a copper alloy. It’s meant to turn that color. Leave it.
Altering things however they pleased was a value practiced by the Romans themselves. In the interest of artistic integrity one is obliged to treat something Roman in any way they see fit, tomorrow be damned. A thing is only immortal for as long as it deserves to be.
And that attitude is how rare things become more rare.
I’d be interested in keeping this discussion respectful because I’ve suddenly found myself interested in a bit of artistic navel-gazing.
On the one hand, I understand the concept of ‘leave the item in its deteriorated state.’ Two thousand year’s worth of corrosion and sundry filth is a testament to the item’s journey through time as well as a form of protection. The artist and his* culture are extinct and this item is part of all that remains to speak for them. It is more than a bracelet in this regard.
On the other hand, the thing exists because an artist/craftsman made something from his imagination. The ravages of time cannot be made to unhappen, but an item can be restored as closely as possible to the creator’s original vision & skill. In the case of a ‘found’ artifact, its 2,000 year journey can only be guessed at so it doesn’t really help us piece together any historical events. To the extent it has any significance, it is to speak to the state of the art at the time it was created–which means it should be seen in as close to its new condition as possible. So we can get some insight into what the craftsmanship and market demands were at the time.
- yes, I totally assumed the artists gender. I’m a bad person.
But these aren’t rare. They are the ancient Roman equivalent of Goodwill oil paintings from the turn of the century (spend any time in a Goodwill and you can cover your walls in mediocre art painted by unknown artists). They have (in general) about as much historical value as my son’s kindergarten art - and about as much artistic value as my late brother in law’s album.
Things become rare when someone says “there are 10,000 of these, so it is okay to destroy this one,” “there are 9,999 of these, so it is okay to destroy this one,” “there are 9,998 of these, so it is okay to destroy this one,” that is how things that weren’t rare become rare. I’m not going to make the moral claim that you absolutely, positivly must perserve each and every one, but the attitude that there are plenty of x so it is disposable or that x has no value is how x becomes rare. (And if there are any historians around 2,000 years from now, they would love to have your son’s kindergarten art or your brother-in-law’s album.)
And if everyone kept their kid’s kindergarten art for 2,000 years then the world would be filled with trash, with no room to create anew. We’d be a species of hoarders, more interested in hanging onto the tokens of our past for the imagined benefit of someone in the future than living in our present.
As I said before, there are thousands of these things being professionally preserved and curated in museums. We aren’t in danger of losing all of our Roman era bracelets to people who clean them. We aren’t likely to learn anything new from this Roman era bracelet.
It takes more than simply “being old” to be of value. And not just monetary value.
I’m kinda okay with that.
Two things are clear here: 1.) you and I are never going to reach an agreement on this issue and 2.) the OP is never coming back.
Band name!
No, but if you must clean it, clean it extremely gently with a damp microfiber with purified water (water with minimal chlorine) and pat it dry, dust it with compressed after (lint). That is pretty much what you are limited to unless you are an expert in antiquities.