Low Tech Silver Patina
Want to blacken or patina some silver but don’t have Silver Black or Liver of Sulfur? Don’t want to use hazardous materials? There’s a simple way to get the job done.
I used a very overdone boiled egg to put the patina on this piece.
It's easy. Boil the egg several minutes too long. You want lots of that green stuff that forms around the yolk when it’s over cooked. The green stuff is sulfur and it causes silver to darken.
Peel the egg, remove the yolk and crumble it into a plastic baggy. I was in a hurry so I heated my metal piece with a hairdryer, blew hot air into the baggy, put my silver in and closed everything up. To keep it warm longer I covered it up with a folded towel. The next morning I had nicely blackened Art Clay hearts, which I then brushed with steel wool and burnished slightly.
The egg will spoil, so if you need more darkening, boil a fresh egg and discard the old one.
If you aren’t in such a hurry and want color instead of black, put it in the refrigerator. This may take a week. Check it frequently until the color is right. The sulfur causes color changes that range through yellow, orange, brown, red, purple blue, green, and gray to black.
If your silver piece will touch the skin it’s a good idea to seal it with a clear lacquer or other sealant. The patina can wear off if exposed to the skin.
silver, patina, Art Clay
Love the idea and your work is so timeless and detailed.
Thanks, Billye.