SUASA Copper/Gold or Gold/Copper alloy

Battara · 25th May 2011, 05:06 PM

The problem with traditional gilding is that mercury is used.

It vaporizes when heat is applied and gold bonds into the base metal. It is thick compared to gold plating.

Alan is right in that the recipe for suassa varies between regions and even between smiths, depending upon the hue needed.

A. G. Maisey · 26th May 2011, 01:04 AM

Yes, the mercury is a problem.

However, the one remaining man in Solo who still does this work is by all reports at least 80+ years old --- and he looks more than that.

It reminds me a bit of Empu Suparman and his warangan work. He used to grind up the warangan on the same mortar and pestle that his wife used to prepare spices for use in cooking.

But it wasn't the arsenic that killed him it was tobacco.

25th May 2011, 05:06 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	The problem with traditional gilding is that mercury is used. It vaporizes when heat is applied and gold bonds into the base metal. It is thick compared to gold plating. Alan is right in that the recipe for suassa varies between regions and even between smiths, depending upon the hue needed.

26th May 2011, 01:04 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Yes, the mercury is a problem. However, the one remaining man in Solo who still does this work is by all reports at least 80+ years old --- and he looks more than that. It reminds me a bit of Empu Suparman and his warangan work. He used to grind up the warangan on the same mortar and pestle that his wife used to prepare spices for use in cooking. But it wasn't the arsenic that killed him it was tobacco.