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patine polie et douée du pouvoir réfléchissant

English translation: given a polished, reflective patina

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:patine polie et douée du pouvoir réfléchissant
English translation:given a polished, reflective patina
Entered by: angela3thomas

19:14 Jun 4, 2017
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Archaeology / ancient art
French term or phrase: patine polie et douée du pouvoir réfléchissant
Hi again!
DOC: 1907 Museum catalog of ancient Egyptian mirrors. Catalog entry.
CONTEXT: 44079. Disque de miroir. - Bronze. (pl. XIX). Technique: Le disque est fondu et soigneusement poli. Il est recouvert d'une patine marron très sombre (bronzes japonais) qui ne paraît pas accidentelle et l'on peut se demander s'il n'existait pas une catégorie de miroirs non dorés, ni argentés, mais pourvus d'une ***patine polie et douée du pouvoir réfléchissant.*** La gravure du revers est faite par un artiste consommé: pas d'hésitation dans le tracé qui est en même temps très fin.
ATTEMPT: The disk is cast and carefully polished. It is covered with a very dark brown patina (Japanese bronzes) which does not seem accidental and one may wonder if there weren't a category of mirrors neither gilded nor silvered, ***but provided with a patina polished and endowed/gifted?/ with reflectivity.*** The engraving on the reverse is done by a consummate artist: no hesitation in the drawing which is simultaneously very fine.
ISSUE: I can't think of a better wording and "endowed" rather bugs. I do want to keep it clear that "douée" is describing the patina. Perhaps "provided with a patina polished and reflective"? Sounds stilted! Sigh! "a polished, reflective patina? or does this leave out something essential?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
angela3thomas
United States
(covered with a) polished, reflective patina
Explanation:
I would express it simply, like this. I see no great virtue in reproducing the very wordy style of the original, and I can't think of a way of doing so that doesn't sound unacceptably clunky in English. I can't see that anything is lost if you reduce "douée du pouvoir réfléchissant" to "reflective".
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 22:34
Grading comment
Thank you all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2(covered with a) polished, reflective patina
Charles Davis


  

Answers


24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(covered with a) polished, reflective patina


Explanation:
I would express it simply, like this. I see no great virtue in reproducing the very wordy style of the original, and I can't think of a way of doing so that doesn't sound unacceptably clunky in English. I can't see that anything is lost if you reduce "douée du pouvoir réfléchissant" to "reflective".

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 22:34
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 52
Grading comment
Thank you all!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
41 mins
  -> Thanks, Phil
agree  mrrafe: "given" would be closer to the original than "covered with," yet also would read better than that or than "endowed with.:
2 hrs
  -> I agree with you; "given" would be better. Thanks!
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