Does Patina Guarantee Antiquity?

The Piroska Gulachi Amulet has been claimed to be an old magical item. It is claimed to date from around 1950's. As to most of bronze items, the age of Piroska Gulachi Amulet is identified from its patina. They say, the older a bronze item is, the more patina is noticable there. However, it's not easy for ordinary people like me to differ natural patina from the 'fake'(unnatural) one.

The Exploration

Now, let's explore the patina found in Piroska Gulachi Amulet. We can notice there are two kinds of patina. The green, common one, and the dark gray are thought to be the patina in the amulet. Forgive me for this little knowledge of patina. I wish you are willing to share your idea here. The patina doesn't cover the whole area. Most and distinctive patina can be found in the granma side. However, it's still occasional look. Very slight and thin patina can also be found in granpa side. Theirs are green and surrounded by brown stain.

patina in front of the granma's nose

patina below the granma's chin

patina around the granma's lips

patina at granma's cheek

thin green patina and brown patina in the middle

patina below 'A' letter at granpa side surrounded by gray patina

Some dark gray 'patina' is also noticeable. Well, I call it patina although most people will disagree. I just want to consider it as the sign of aging and not of dirt.

dark gray 'patina', the sign of aging

dark gray 'patina', the sign of aging

Patina 'shows' the age of a bronze item. Sometimes the color can tell the age. For the reference, you can check out this website. Patina can also be artificial. It is made that way in order to beautify an artwork with an aging impression. 

Does Piroska Gulachi Amulet have fake patina? Is it REALLY old enough? If you doubt the antiquity of Piroska Gulachi Amulet due to its limited or doubtful patina, you need to remember the process of natural patina.

The Process of Patination

According to Wikipedia, the green patina that forms naturally on copper and bronze, sometimes called verdigris, usually consists of a mixture of chlorides, sulphides and carbonates (copper carbonate, copper chloride or copper sulphide). Atacamite is another name for the patina compounds. Verdigris can be produced on copper by the application of vinegar (acetic acid). Such a verdigris is water-soluble and will not last on the outside of a building like a "true" patina. It is usually used as pigment. One example of a patina is a green surface texture created by slow chemical alteration of copper, producing a basic carbonate. It can form on pure copper objects as well as alloys which contain copper, such as bronze or brass. A patina layer takes many years to develop under natural weathering. A copper roof will patinate faster than a copper facade, due to the longer dwell time of water on the surface. Buildings in coastal / marine locations will weather and develop a patina layer faster than ones in inland areas. For example, a new copper facade in central London will most likely not develop a "typical" green patina until after 50 years.

We can conclude that the process of patina can VARY from one place to another, one acidic process to another,  and one 'habitat' to another. Thus, patina doesn't guarantee the age. It can be made by higher technology, or inhibited by the lack of patination factors such as humidity, oxidation and acidic contact. If the bronze item is taken care very well (away from humidity, oxidation and acidic contact), the patination can be inhibited. Does this taking care make the item less antique? Yes, if you think patination is the lord of aging in bronze.


Why does the patina lie more on the side and the corner along the line of granma drawing? It's probably the side of picture was put on the humid or salty cloth. Then it wasn't cleaned thoroughly. the granpa side was cleaned frequently. Or else, the second scenario, the granma side was exposed to humid room with salt atmosphere, probably near the beach, whereas the other side is facing down and protected by dry cloth or something.

This was probably how the amulet cleaned

Piroska Gulachi Amulet Antiquity

Despite of the age, the Piroska Gulachi is STILL an antique item because it is not reproduce-able. This is an antiquity which is suitable for 'beyond-crowds' or 'out-of-the-flock' collector.