Corrosion is the major problem in the degradation of heritage metal objects. The development of appropriate treatment methods to stabilize and protect artefacts is a undeniable scientific challenge. Here we propose a new coating method to protect lead heritage metal objects. This coating is environmentally safe, stable, reversible, easy to apply and to remove, and aesthetically justified. The coating consists of a compact and thick layer of lead ditetradecanoate, which is formed upon immersion of a lead substrate in a melted sample of tetradecanoic acid at 60 degrees C. Coated lead samples were exposed either to an aqueous corrosive environment or to a closed chamber with high relative humidity and an oak corrosive atmosphere. The corrosion resistance of the coating was followed for 60 days by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Results show an unprecedented corrosion inhibition of the new coatings. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.