Metals

Introduction

Metals have played a significant part in human and technological development. This is reflected in the fact that two major periods in human history have been named after metals: the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.

Metals have been used—either in pure form or combined with other metals—to produce an enormous variety of objects, including weapons, tools, machinery, decorative art objects and jewellery. Because of the huge range of uses for metals, objects containing metal, or fully made from metals, are all around us. They make up a large part of many collections housed in museums, galleries and even some libraries.

But despite their apparent solidity, metals do corrode and can be vulnerable to physical damage. It is important that those responsible for the care of metal and metal—containing objects are able to recognise problems when they see them, and take steps to halt them.