The Leyden and Stockholm Papyri - University of Cincinnati

that is today known as realgar by the mineralogists. “Decomposed
sandarach” possibly referred to that subjected to a roasting process
and would in reality be the oxide.
24. Hardening of Tin
For hardening tin, spread separately (on its surface) lamellose
alum and copperas; if, moreover, you have purified the tin as is
necessary and have employed the materials previously named, in
such a way that they did not escape by flowing away during the
heating, you have Egyptian asem for the manufacture of objects (of
jewelry).
25. Gold Polish
For treating gold, otherwise called, purifying gold and rendering it
brilliant: Misy, 4 parts; alum, 4 parts; salt, 4 parts. Pulverize with
water. And having coated the gold (with it), place it in an earthenware
vessel deposited in a furnace and luted with clay, (and heat)
until the above-named substances have become molten, then withdraw
it and scour carefully.
26. Purification of Silver
How silver is purified and made brilliant. Take a part of silver and
an equal weight of lead: place in a furnace and keep up the melting
until the lead has just been consumed; repeat the operation
several times until it becomes brilliant.
27. Coloring in Silver
THE LEYDEN PAPYRUS X
For silvering objects of copper: tin in sticks, 2 drachmas; mercury,
2 drachmas; earth of Chios, 2 drachmas. Melt the tin, throw on the
crushed earth, then the mercury, and stir with an iron and fashion
into globules.
- 25 -