Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s8.8
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s8.8
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v1.c11.s8.8
Mackay does not think that this coating was invariably applied. If the steatite used for the seal was a good white specimen, then the coating would not have been needed; but when the stone was grey or black or otherwise impure in colour, a white surface was evidently considered essential for aesthetic reasons. Some of the seals are made of a fine black steatite and these still show in many parts that they were carefully coated with white material. Besides whitening the surface of the seal, the baking would materially assist in hardening it owing to the loss of water. (MCK, 346)