Snuff boxes

I am looking for information about the composition and treatment of
17th century snuff boxes.  Archaeologists at Memorial University,
Newfoundland, Canada have uncovered at least one base-metal (iron)
snuff box possibly with an organic (horn) lid and silver surface
decoration.  The silver is well preserved.  The substrate below the
silver was possibly horn, now pseudomorphically replaced by an iron
corrosion product.  The box is made of iron and appears to be
extensively corroded on an x-ray.

Cathy Mathias
Memorial University
Archaeology Unit
Queen's College
Newfoundland A1C 5S7
Canada


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:58
                   Distributed: Monday, March 8, 2004
                       Message Id: cdl-17-58-016
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