The Leyden and Stockholm Papyri - University of Cincinnati

of gold, and make up into the consistency of wax; taking the vessel
of silver, clean it with alum, and taking a little of the waxy material,
lay it on with the polisher and let the material fasten itself
on. Do this five times. Hold the vessel with a genuine linen cloth
in order not to soil it. Then taking some embers, prepare some
ashes (and with them) smooth (it) with the polisher and use as a
gold vessel. It can be submitted to the test for regular gold.
58. Writing in Letters of Gold
Golden-colored arsenic, 20 drachmas; pulverized glass, 4 staters;
of white of egg, 2 staters; white gum, 20 staters; saffron .... after
having written, let dry and polish with a tooth.
59. Manufacture of Asem
Asem is also prepared with copper; (silver) 2 mina; tin in grains, 1
mina; melting first the copper, throw on it the tin and some talc
called chalk, a half to one mina; proceed until you see the silver
and the chalk melt; after which the remainder will have been dissipated
and only the silver will remain, then let it cool, and use it as
asem preferable to the genuine.
The chemical nature of the mineral or flux called “talc” or “chalk”
in this recipe is unknown. Certainly it does not correspond to the
substances of that name that we are acquainted with.
60. Another (Preparation)
Everlasting asem is prepared thus: 1 slater of good asem; add to it
2 staters of refined copper, melt two or three times.
61. Whitening of Tin
THE LEYDEN PAPYRUS X
To whiten tin. Having heated (it) with alum and natron, melt.
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