Niello is a dark gray to black coating used for surface decoration much like enamel in that it has higher wear resistance than oxidation. Traditional niello, discussed in my 2017 Santa Fe Symposium® paper, contains lead, which is banned in jewelry production in many countries and poses a health hazard to the artist using it. This paper will explore the production and use of lead-free niello and make comparisons between lead-free and traditional lead-bearing alloys.

Author: Christopher M. Manning