How can i clean this without damaging the brooch please?

[dragonsbreath]

I am looking for suggestions as how to clean off the very hard encrustation without

damaging this brooch please?

Its design is of a serpent swallowing its tail but does not show up well in the scan...

[robfinds]

I am looking for suggestions as how to clean off the very hard encrustation without

damaging this brooch please?

Its design is of a serpent swallowing its tail but does not show up well in the scan...

If the crust looks very hard, my advice would be to leave it. If you clean it aggressively the patina could come off with the crust. You could if your'e patient soak it in oil for a week, then "gently" work on the crust with a cocktail stick. Or soak it in baby oil which is slightly corrosive for a few days, then work on the crust. Some people on this site swear by using peroxide, never used it myself, so I can't comment. Good luck dragonsbreath, let us know what you do, good find either way.

[Deepdiger60]

That is one cool find sorry i cant help with cleaning leave that up to the experts ,how old is that ? Dd60

[robfinds]

Looking at the brooch closer, it does seem to have some bronze disease. Maybe better not to clean it.
Robert.

[Silver Searcher]

Looking at it now :P I would agree with Rob, the Patina doesn't look stable enough to withstand any cleaning, put some Olive oil on it and wrap it up in tissue for a week, some detail should show, and it will stop it from drying out also

SS

[Iron Patch]

I am looking for suggestions as how to clean off the very hard encrustation without

damaging this brooch please?

Its design is of a serpent swallowing its tail but does not show up well in the scan...

If the crust looks very hard, my advice would be to leave it. If you clean it aggressively the patina could come off with the crust. You could if your'e patient soak it in oil for a week, then "gently" work on the crust with a cocktail stick. Or soak it in baby oil which is slightly corrosive for a few days, then work on the crust. Some people on this site swear by using peroxide, never used it myself, so I can't comment. Good luck dragonsbreath, let us know what you do, good find either way.

I think that one is like a coin that barely has the detail holding on, and trying any type of cleaning usually results in losing it. I wouldn't even oil it because it doesn't look like it can get much better, and the oil will make the little you can see now not as visible, and will also make the pitting look much worse. Anyway, that's what I get looking at the picture.

[Silver Searcher]

There will be some different of opinions on what to do with your find, what you choose to do is up to you, the Olive oil will high light the detail that's left, and also show the pitting from were the patina has come off but the method I stated is the one I use always on Bronze Artifacts of that age, and they have never looked worse than what they were before. The key I posted had signs of Bronze decease when found, and the Patina was coming off, it was wrapped in Olive oil and tissue and was kept like that until I sold it.....but the choice is yours

SS

[dragonsbreath]

Thanks very much guys for the constructive replies...

I agree that aggressive cleaning is out of the question

BUT as it is it shows very little true detail and i really do not have much

to lose by adopting the wrap in olive oil and leave for a while approach

as suggested by Silver Searcher then i think that is what i will try.

Just as added info this was found in close proximity to several bits

of Saxon long brooches and another two annular like the above, these items

have been duly recorded with the F.L.O. for the area found which was in the

East Midlands of England.

The site is now off limits as a suspected Saxon burial area.

But surrounding fields are still o.k.

Thanks to all for your comments PaulB.

[shaun7]

Thanks very much guys for the constructive replies...

I agree that aggressive cleaning is out of the question

BUT as it is it shows very little true detail and i really do not have much

to lose by adopting the wrap in olive oil and leave for a while approach

as suggested by Silver Searcher then i think that is what i will try.

Just as added info this was found in close proximity to several bits

of Saxon long brooches and another two annular like the above, these items

have been duly recorded with the F.L.O. for the area found which was in the

East Midlands of England.

The site is now off limits as a suspected Saxon burial area.

But surrounding fields are still o.k.

Thanks to all for your comments PaulB.

Are they going to dig there Paul?

[dragonsbreath]

Thanks very much guys for the constructive replies...

I agree that aggressive cleaning is out of the question

BUT as it is it shows very little true detail and i really do not have much

to lose by adopting the wrap in olive oil and leave for a while approach

as suggested by Silver Searcher then i think that is what i will try.

Just as added info this was found in close proximity to several bits

of Saxon long brooches and another two annular like the above, these items

have been duly recorded with the F.L.O. for the area found which was in the

East Midlands of England.

The site is now off limits as a suspected Saxon burial area.

But surrounding fields are still o.k.

Thanks to all for your comments PaulB.

Are they going to dig there Paul?

Its yes when funds allow old chestnut Shaun lol Happy Hunting M8t

[shaun7]

Thanks very much guys for the constructive replies...

I agree that aggressive cleaning is out of the question

BUT as it is it shows very little true detail and i really do not have much

to lose by adopting the wrap in olive oil and leave for a while approach

as suggested by Silver Searcher then i think that is what i will try.

Just as added info this was found in close proximity to several bits

of Saxon long brooches and another two annular like the above, these items

have been duly recorded with the F.L.O. for the area found which was in the

East Midlands of England.

The site is now off limits as a suspected Saxon burial area.

But surrounding fields are still o.k.

Thanks to all for your comments PaulB.

Are they going to dig there Paul?

Its yes when funds allow old chestnut Shaun lol Happy Hunting M8t

I wonder if they would let you help? Seeing as you found the site and recorded the finds!

I'd love an opportunity like that

[DMN]

I'm sorry, what is the age guesstimate of the brooch?

[dragonsbreath]

Hi DMN The Brooch is Saxon 5th to 8th Century Thanks for the interest PaulB.

[Silver Searcher]

So you recorded the finds and they stopped you from detecting I find that amazing, and down right frustrating. was the field that produced these finds ploughed land if it was there is no reason to stop detecting it, the finds are already out of context by ways of the farming activities. This one of the reasons I tell Archy's nothing and will keep on working that way
Sorry you lost a good spot Paul

SS

[DMN]

That's one terrific find. Let's see that in a few weeks, after your preservation work!

[robfinds]

So you recorded the finds and they stopped you from detecting I find that amazing, and down right frustrating. was the field that produced these finds ploughed land if it was there is no reason to stop detecting it, the finds are already out of context by ways of the farming activities. This one of the reasons I tell Archy's nothing and will keep on working that way
Sorry you lost a good spot Paul

SS

not a lot of people know this, but if the land owner does not want you to declare the find site , you don't have to. Gold silver or other wise, this is hidden in the small print of the law.
Robert.

[Silver Searcher]

So you recorded the finds and they stopped you from detecting I find that amazing, and down right frustrating. was the field that produced these finds ploughed land if it was there is no reason to stop detecting it, the finds are already out of context by ways of the farming activities. This one of the reasons I tell Archy's nothing and will keep on working that way
Sorry you lost a good spot Paul

SS

not a lot of people know this, but if the land owner does not want you to declare the find site , you don't have to. Gold silver or other wise, this is hidden in the small print of the law.
Robert.

Yes I did know that Rob, our Villa site the owner there doesn't want to know what we find and doesn't want us to tell

SS

[shaun7]

So you recorded the finds and they stopped you from detecting I find that amazing, and down right frustrating. was the field that produced these finds ploughed land if it was there is no reason to stop detecting it, the finds are already out of context by ways of the farming activities. This one of the reasons I tell Archy's nothing and will keep on working that way
Sorry you lost a good spot Paul

SS

not a lot of people know this, but if the land owner does not want you to declare the find site , you don't have to. Gold silver or other wise, this is hidden in the small print of the law.
Robert.

But you still have to declare the find?

[robfinds]

So you recorded the finds and they stopped you from detecting I find that amazing, and down right frustrating. was the field that produced these finds ploughed land if it was there is no reason to stop detecting it, the finds are already out of context by ways of the farming activities. This one of the reasons I tell Archy's nothing and will keep on working that way
Sorry you lost a good spot Paul

SS

not a lot of people know this, but if the land owner does not want you to declare the find site , you don't have to. Gold silver or other wise, this is hidden in the small print of the law.
Robert.

But you still have to declare the find?

but not the site

[shaun7]

So you recorded the finds and they stopped you from detecting I find that amazing, and down right frustrating. was the field that produced these finds ploughed land if it was there is no reason to stop detecting it, the finds are already out of context by ways of the farming activities. This one of the reasons I tell Archy's nothing and will keep on working that way
Sorry you lost a good spot Paul

SS

not a lot of people know this, but if the land owner does not want you to declare the find site , you don't have to. Gold silver or other wise, this is hidden in the small print of the law.
Robert.

But you still have to declare the find?

but not the site

Oh...bummer