Régule
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Régule is an alloy of antimony and lead or antimony and tin .
etymology
Régule is derived from the Latin word regulus = little or young king. The term was coined by the alchemists who believed that antimony could be converted into gold, king of metals. According to Diderot's encyclopedia, Régule is obtained by subjecting antimony to a purification. The encyclopedists here still adopt the alchemical meaning of the word, which is contrary to the current definition of Régule as an alloy .
properties
Régule is a fairly soft material with a low melting point that is reminiscent of tin on the outside. It can easily be given a different color, given an artificial patina reminiscent of bronze, or galvanically silvered or gilded. It is a sensitive material and much less robust than bronze.
- composition
Régule alloys can contain different components:
- 90% tin , 10% copper
- 89% tin, 7% antimony , 4% copper
- 80% lead , 15% antimony, 5% tin
- 76% copper, 24% lead
- 67% copper, 28% tin, 5% lead
Régules in the visual arts
Régule was a preferred material for small sculptures of the 19th century and was often used by artists who can be assigned to Art Deco . Analogous to the term "small bronze", the term for the material was transferred to the object made from Régule. Decorative objects from inexpensive Régule have been made as a kind of affordable “bronze for the poor”, especially in France, since the end of the 19th century. In this case, the Régule can best be compared with die-cast zinc , which is also significantly cheaper than bronze.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Wiktionary, French
- ^ Metal Connexion ; and Diderot - Encyclopedie 1ere edition tome 1.djvu / 566