Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Antique Green
An imitation of antique bronze can be applied to new articles by the following process: Dissolve 3 parts of common salt, 1 part of sal-ammoniac and 3 parts of powdered tartar in 12 parts of boiling water. Add 8 parts of a solution of cupric nitrate, and coat the articles with the liquid.
Black Bronze for Brass. 1. Dissolve one oz. of copper carbonate in 8 3/4 fluid ounces of spirit of sal-ammoniac. Add one pint of water and stir constantly. The articles to be colored should be suspended in the liquid by means of brass or copper wires for a short time. The coating adheres better if the articles are polished with coarse emery paper. 2. Brush the brass with a solution of nitrate of mercury, and then several times with a solution of liver of sulphur. (Fused sulphuret of potassium, so called from its resemblance to liver in color.)