Печать ордена госпитальеров из коллекции Н. П. Лихачева: исследование состава металла и технологии изготовления
Hospitallers’ Seal from N. P. Likhachev’s Collection: a Study of Metal Composition and Manufacturing Methods

Summary/Abstract: The article addresses the seal of the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, held in the Archives of the St. Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The artifact comes from N. P. Likhachev’s collection, and its earlier history is unknown. On its surface, there are clearly visible traces of remaking, which indicates the deliberate transformation of the matrix into a decorative element or amulet. The seal is made of copper-base alloy containing zinc (27.3 %), lead (1.3 %) and nickel (0.2 %). A trasological analysis revealed a number of technological features of the matrix. There are markers suggesting that the whole image, including the letters in the legend, was first produced as a wax model, which was then used for the lost wax casting. No traces of post-casting refinement on the matrix surface were found. Most of the legend letters were probably made with the help of a set of stamps consisting of small modules and whole letters.

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