Re: [Ancientartifacts] Scarab problem

Thanks Jim and Kim,

I do not think my scarab problem is salt at least not on one of them.

On the carnelian scarab bronze ring --- the white shiny haze has become one with the carnelian. It does not powder off nor does it lightly scrape off with a dental pick. I have major doubts that water will do much. If water would have an affect, it would have to soak for a very long time.

The other scarab which I am sure is NOT steatite (and may be blue frit?) --- the white stuff does powder off with a dental pick. A friend suggested that I scrape some off and TASTE IT to see if it is salt. (Let me say, there is absolutely no way I would TASTE anything that had been on a scarab!) Anyway, I am in the process of researching for a test for salt. Does anyone know if frit can be damaged by soaking?

This scarab has some interesting glyphs but I don't want to ask the group their meaning until I am sure I have them correct -- for example I thought this scarab had a "Ra" - circle on it. Then after scraping it, I discovered that the circle was really a square.

I get so frustrated sometimes. Eventhough I have 8 + 2 = 10 books on scarabs (I just received the two F. S. Matouk books in the mail this week.); I still find reading the glyphs difficult.

Teresa Day-Smith

---------[ Received Mail Content ]----------

Subject : Re: [Ancientartifacts] Scarab problem

Date : Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:06:37 -0400

From : JShaffer99@aol.com

To : Ancientartifacts@yahoogroups.com



Hi all,

Well, after rebuilding my system, I am back.? What a pain it is.?



To comment on Teresa's scarabs, if it is stone or faience, a good bath in DW should not be a problem.? For the one still on the encrusted ring, I agree that cares should be exercised but again, unless dirt is all that is holding it together, I cannot see the harm in a bath.? But of course, they are not mine.? :^)



I have soaked ushabtis and scarabs in the past without any difficulties though.



A;; the best,





"Ancient" Jim

Et Tu Antiquities

http://ettuantiquities.com





-----Original Message-----

From: Teresa Day-Smith

To: Ancientartifacts@yahoogroups.com

Cc: tdsmith928@lycos.com

Sent: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 12:33 pm

Subject: [Ancientartifacts] Scarab problem





All,



I have two scarabs that need cleaning (badly).



One is a carnelian scarab still on its bronze ring. It is really a nice piece but one can not see the true color of the carnelian. It has a whitish haze like hard water deposits but shinning. The carnelian scarab is frozen in place (will not move/spin) and I am fearful it would break from the ring if I did much to it.



The other is a very unique scarab (actually a scaraboid) with glyphs that I am still researching to discover their meaning (none of my eight books on scarabs has anything like them). It has a white powdery substance on it like plaster. I removed some of this substance around the holes with a dental pick but I am afraid to proceed any further. This scarab I know for sure is NOT steatite and I think it is probably faience - it has that medium solid blue color.



I remember a discussion in the group about putting faience shabties in distilled water but as I remember that was not to clean them but for salt problems?



Does anybody have any ideas?



Teresa Day-Smith

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