Mercia Sveiter currently produces almost 900 different cast bronze items ranging from clothes fasteners to axe-heads and covering the periods from the Bronze Age to the English Civil War. All bronzes are cast using the lost wax investment method.
If you are looking for something a little more 'high status' then all bronzes can be provided either silver or gold plated. Silver plating will increase the cost of an item by 50% and gold plating by 100%, so for example a buckle which normally costs £10 would be £15 if silver plated or £20 if gold plated.
For the fabulously wealthy we can also offer any item cast in Sterling silver. Prices for this service depend entirely on current bullion prices so will vary from time to time.
Gold & silver plating in Saxon and medieval times.
As electricity was not invented I am obviously not talking about electro-plating! The most common method was to dissolve the gold or silver into mercury. This was then painted onto the item to be plated and then heated until the mercury evaporated.
The gold plated item would typically retain between 8 & 25% of the mercury.
We now know that mercury is very toxic and so to grip a sword hilt or have a pendant touching the skin is not advisable.
I do not like the idea of inhaling mercury vapour so if you want it done completely authentically, please find another manufacturer, but do it quickly before they die!
I use the easier and safer for us all method of electroplating. It looks very similar, is safer and cheaper. Silver plating adds 50% to the basic bronze price whilst gold doubles it.
As an example, the ESBR17 brooch was originally gold plated.
If you want silver or gold plating, or Sterling silver casting, please make this known in the 'Special Instructions' field when you place your order.
Belt leather for use with your belt fittings can be found under 'Sundries' in the main Online Catalogue menu.
For those of you who cannot put the bits of a belt together we can do it for you. Please add 'BELT01' to your order and we will select the correct width strap for you. Please say how long you would like the belt including any dangly bit!
If you just want the belt leather please use code 'BELT02'.
This web site and all content herein is copyright of Viking Designs Ltd t/a Mercia Sveiter Directors: Paul Craddock BSc.GdL and Sharon Craddock.
Registered in England and Wales. No. 6223040
(and may not be reproduced in any form without written consent of Mercia Sveiter.)
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