|
|
Post by thatguy on Nov 4, 2010 22:44:18 GMT
I'm writing a fantasy story in which a sword is found in a cave. I want to be as accurate as possible, so how well preserved would a sword be if it was encased in wax and sealed in a clay box? Or would it be better to have it sealed in a solid block of clay? Just trying to accurately depict its state of preservation. I would rather avoid the geek types pointing out that "that sword couldn't be in such good condition" type of scenarios.
|
|
ghost
Member
Posts: 1,331
|
Post by ghost on Nov 4, 2010 23:27:45 GMT
if it is fantasy novel and there is any magic in it...you might as well make it enchanted.
I cannot remember the last fantasy novel that I have read without magic being present.
As an avid fantasy reader myself, I do not believe that you will be in any danger of needing to cater to realists when writing a purely fictional story.
A sword baked in solid block of clay might work though I believe there are nasty corrosive compounds inside natural clay that may still allow a bit of corrosion to occur. Remember clay is permeable to water and oxygen and really highly baked clay will only block water. Anything might sound feasible that would block water and oxygen from coming into contact with iron and preventing it from oxidizing. A cave is a pretty stable environment so wax / clay would be a reasonable preserver depending on how long you were planning to let it "rot." Centuries sound okay...but not millenia (poor viking swords :cry: )
how about sealed inside a solid block of glass / crystal ? Amber (credit Jurassic Park though all sorts of fossils are found in amber)
|
|
|
|
Post by LittleJP on Nov 5, 2010 3:16:43 GMT
What about a bog?
Most ancient/dark age celtic swords were thrown into bogs if my memory of Oakenshott's books serves me correctly.
|
|
TomK
Member
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,377
|
Post by TomK on Nov 5, 2010 7:14:33 GMT
wrap it in an oil-soaked cloth, then incase it in a resin-tarred cedar box and that inside your baked clay. or magic. magic is always your trump card in fantasy, use it without shame.
by the way, welcome to the SBG forum I look forward to hearing more from you and maybe being able to figure out why people so often tell me not to be you . . .
|
|
|
|
Post by Tinker Pearce on Nov 5, 2010 13:19:34 GMT
Okay- encased in a solid block of clay is out- as the clay dried the water in the clay would rust the blade. If put in a kiln and fired the sword would be destroyed. Inside a fired and glazed clay box? Pretty good as the glazing will stop moisture from penetrating. Seal the box with tar or resin and you are even better. Stored in a cave+ good; nice stable environment. Wax could be problematic- but olive oil would actually work pretty well and the sword could be in darn good condition, perhaps only needing the leather bits to be carefully oiled and rehydrated or replaced. For the sword to be in perfect condition? Magic is your friend.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tinker Pearce on Nov 5, 2010 13:21:36 GMT
addendum: Magic is your friend- but better initial preparations as described = less magic needed.
|
|
|
|
Post by thatguy on Nov 5, 2010 15:20:18 GMT
I like what I'm hearing. This is the sort of feedback I was looking for. What about encased in wax and then encased in a block of clay? Would the wax protect it enough from the corrosive elements of clay or not at all? Also, magic is mainly down played in my story. Mostly fantasy in a made up lands with lots of swords and battles type of story.
|
|
|
|
Post by sam salvati on Nov 5, 2010 15:47:32 GMT
sealed in paraffin wax, in the box would last quite a long time. I know they use paraffin for preserving museum pieces.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tinker Pearce on Nov 5, 2010 17:24:19 GMT
If the box is glazed inside and pout corrosives in the clay aren't an issue. Wax is an excellent preservative but on something stored 100s of years? Not os sure. Be non-specific about the type of was and you can probably get away with it.
Think the geeks won't come out of the wood work to point out inconsistencies just because it's fiction? Have you never been to a Sci-Fi convention?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2010 19:27:38 GMT
:lol:
|
|
