A Wrought Iron Railing of the 16th Century

Abstract

Specimens from a wrought iron railing placed on the Marcus Aurelius Column during the 16th century have been examined with metallographic methods. They show a very heterogeneous structure with many oxide and silicate inclusions and frequent mechanical twins in the ferrite grains. The inclusions have been studied with microanalysis EDS apparatus. The results of the study of the bloomery iron are discussed also in comparison with the iron-making techniques as described by Biringuccio in order to infer additional informations on the manifacturing methods that were used.