Results for patina
On this page:
 
Dictionary:

patina1

  (păt'n-ə) pronunciation
n., pl. pat·i·nae (păt'n-ē).

See paten (sense 1).

[Medieval Latin, from Latin, plate. See paten.]


pat·i·na2 (păt'n-ə, pə-tē') pronunciation also pa·tine (pă-tēn')
n.
  1. A thin greenish layer, usually basic copper sulfate, that forms on copper or copper alloys, such as bronze, as a result of corrosion.
  2. The sheen on any surface, produced by age and use.
  3. A change in appearance produced by long-standing behavior, practice, or use: a face etched with a patina of fine lines and tiny wrinkles.

[Italian, from Latin, plate (from the incrustation on ancient metal plates and dishes). See paten.]


 
 

(patination) [De]

Changes to the outer surface of an artefact that make its colour, texture, feel, or composition different from the main body of the piece, usually as a result of chemical, physical, or biological alteration through contact with the surrounding environment. On flint, patination often appears as a bluish milky-white layer on the surface. This is caused by alkaline conditions slowly affecting the surface of the flint when exposed to the atmosphere or rainwater. The term is also used to refer to the green crust that forms as a result of corrosion on the surface of bronze objects. Under normal circumstances patina takes time to form and is therefore often taken as a reliable indicator of antiquity.

 
(păt'ənə) , coating of carbonate of copper on articles of copper or bronze, formed after long exposure to a moist atmosphere or burial in the earth. Although commonly green, patina varies in color and consistency; it may be red, brown, black, blue, or gray, or it may be smooth, glossy, or crusty. It may be imitated by a number of oxidation processes. The term has been extended to include the film formed on metals, pottery, marble, and other materials by exposure and to the mellow surface acquired by furniture with time and waxing.


 
Wikipedia: patina
A bronze coin of the Han Dynasty - circa 1st century BC with green patina.
Enlarge
A bronze coin of the Han Dynasty - circa 1st century BC with green patina.

Patina is a chemical compound formed on the surface of metal. Patinas form on metal from exposure to the elements. They are often deliberately added by artists and metalworkers. Patinas may be used to 'antique' objects, as a part of the design or decoration of art and furniture.

Patinas are restricted to exposed surfaces and can flake off. One reason bronze is so highly valued in statuary is that its patina protects it against further corrosion. This natural patina seldom shows a tendency to flake. Brass is also resistant to corrosion, but it is, in the long run, not as attractive since local pitting shows against the shiny background.

Figuratively, patina can refer to any fading, darkening or other signs of age, which are felt to be natural and/or unavoidable.

The chemical process by which a patina forms is called patination, and a work of art coated by a patina is said to be patinated.

One example of a patina is a green surface texture created by slow chemical alteration of copper, producing a basic carbonate. It can form on pure copper objects as well as alloys which contain copper, such as bronze or brass.

The Statue of Liberty gets its green color from the natural patina formed on its copper surface.
Enlarge
The Statue of Liberty gets its green color from the natural patina formed on its copper surface.

A wide range of chemicals, both household and commercial, can give a variety of patinas. They are often used by artists as surface embellishments either for color, texture, or both. Patination composition varies with the reacted elements and these will determine the color of the patina. Exposure to chlorides leads to green, while sulfur compounds (such as "liver of sulfur") tend to brown. For artworks patination is deliberately accelerated by heat. Colors range from matte sandstone yellow to deep blues, reds and various blacks, sometimes with the surface sheen enhanced by waxing for artwork displayed indoors.

Patina is also found on slip rings and commutators. This type of patina is formed by corrosion, what elements the air might hold, residue from the wear of the carbon brush and moisture; thus, the patina need special conditions to work as intended.

Patinas can also be found in woks, which form when properly seasoned. The patina on a wok is a dark coating of oils that have been burned onto it to prevent food sticking and to enhance the flavor of the foods cooked in it. Steaming foods or using soap on a wok could damage the patina and possibly allow the wok to rust.

In terms of antiques, "Patina is everything that happens to an object over the course of time. The nick in the leg of a table, a scratch on a table top, the loss of moisture in the paint, the crackling of a finish or a glaze in ceramics, the gentle wear patterns on the edge of a plate. All these things add up to create a softer look, subtle color changes, a character. Patina is built from all the effects, natural and man-made, that create a true antique." - Israel Sack

When creating a forgery potato mold is added as a substitute for Patina. [1][2]

References

    Further reading

    Richard Hughes, Michael Rowe,. The Colouring, Bronzing and Patination of Metals. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. ISBN 0-500-01501-5.  An excellent reference to recipes and techniques for patinas on non-ferrous metals.


     
    Translations: Translations for: Patina

    Dansk (Danish)
    1.
    n. - patina

    2.
    n. - patina

    Nederlands (Dutch)
    patine, pateen, patina (laag), ouderdomsglans

    Français (French)
    1.
    n. - (Relig) patine

    2.
    n. - patine (sur le cuivre, etc)

    Deutsch (German)
    1.
    n. - Patina, Altersglanz

    2.
    n. - Patene, Hostienteller

    Ελληνική (Greek)
    n. - θάμπωμα (κν. γάνα, πατίνα)

    Italiano (Italian)
    patina

    Português (Portuguese)
    n. - pátina (f)

    Русский (Russian)
    патина

    Español (Spanish)
    1.
    n. - pátina

    2.
    n. - patena

    Svenska (Swedish)
    n. - ärg, patina

    中文(简体) (Chinese (Simplified))
    1. 绿锈, 神态, 古色, 大铜盘

    2. 绿锈, 神态, 古色, 大铜盘

    中文(繁體) (Chinese (Traditional))
    1.
    n. - 綠鏽, 神態, 古色, 大銅盤

    2.
    n. - 綠鏽, 神態, 古色, 大銅盤

    한국어 (Korean)
    1.
    n. - 녹청, 고색 창연한 빛

    2.
    n. - 옛 로마의 운두가 낮은 접시, 성반

    日本語 (Japanese)
    n. - 緑青, つや, 風格

    العربيه (Arabic)
    ‏(الاسم) غشاء أكسيدي ملون يغطي سطح المعدن‏

    עברית (Hebrew)
    n. - ‮ירוקת המופיעה על עצמים עתיקים מארד, חלודת-נחושת, הופעה המקרינה ניסיון, ברק הנוצר לאורך השנים על חפצי-עץ‬
    n. - ‮צלחת, בד"כ מזהב או כסף, המשמשת להחזקת לחם-הקודש בטקס חלוקת הלחם והיין בכנסייה‬


     
     

    Join the WikiAnswers Q&A community. Post a question or answer questions about "patina" at WikiAnswers.

     

    Copyrights:

    Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Archaeology Dictionary. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology. Copyright © 2002, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
    Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Patina" Read more
    Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more

    Search for answers directly from your browser with the FREE Answers.com Toolbar!  
    Click here to download now. 

    Get Answers your way! Check out all our free tools and products.

    On this page:   E-mail   print Print  Link  

     

    Keep Reading

    Mentioned In: