Gold Design History 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Gold's malleability allowed ancient Egyptians to do what with it for tomb decoration?
- Hammer it into thin leaf to gild surfaces (Correct answer)
- Melt it into glass
- Spin it into thread only
- Use it as a dye
Correct answer: Hammer it into thin leaf to gild surfaces
Gold's softness let Egyptian artisans beat it into gold leaf to cover wood, stone, and mummy masks.
Question 2: Which ancient civilization produced the famous gold death mask of Tutankhamun?
- Roman
- Egyptian (Correct answer)
- Mayan
- Sumerian
Correct answer: Egyptian
The mask of Tutankhamun is a hallmark of ancient Egyptian gold craftsmanship.
Question 3: The technique of soldering tiny gold balls onto a surface for decoration is called what?
- Filigree
- Granulation (Correct answer)
- Repoussé
- Enameling
Correct answer: Granulation
Granulation fuses minute gold spheres to a metal base, perfected by Etruscan goldsmiths.
Question 4: Why was gold favored over iron for ceremonial jewelry in antiquity?
- It is harder
- It resists corrosion and keeps its shine (Correct answer)
- It is more abundant
- It is magnetic
Correct answer: It resists corrosion and keeps its shine
Gold does not tarnish or rust, so it retains luster indefinitely.
Question 5: Filigree design in gold work refers to what?
- Casting solid shapes
- Delicate twisted-wire patterns (Correct answer)
- Hammered relief images
- Painted gold surfaces
Correct answer: Delicate twisted-wire patterns
Filigree is ornamental work using fine gold wire twisted into lacy patterns.
Question 6: The Etruscans were renowned in design history primarily for their mastery of which gold technique?
- Granulation (Correct answer)
- Electroplating
- Vacuum casting
- Laser cutting
Correct answer: Granulation
Etruscan goldsmiths were celebrated for extraordinarily fine granulation.
Question 7: Repoussé is a gold-design method that creates relief by doing what?
- Pouring molten gold into molds
- Hammering the metal from the reverse side (Correct answer)
- Etching with acid
- Twisting wires
Correct answer: Hammering the metal from the reverse side
Repoussé raises a design by hammering the back of a malleable metal sheet.
Gold Design History 2
Gold's malleability allowed ancient Egyptians to do what with it for tomb decoration?