Name 1
VITRINA RETROILUMINADA DE LOS EMPRÉSTITOS
Name 2
BACKLIT SHOWCASE OF LOANS
ID number
001.40.Almadén
Manager / Administrator
Reyes Ávila Bercial, Cerco San Teodoro, s/n, 13400-Almadén (Ciudad Real)
Ownership
Public
Institution
Minas de Almadén y Arrayanes, S.A
Local / Original ID Number
001.001.003.320
Type of Object
Knowledge, social care
Description
Short description
"The showcase is made up of three elements:
1. Image: gold prospectors in California.
2. Explanation: At the beginning of the 19th century, as a consequence of the armed conflicts caused by the French occupation, the Carlist wars and the independence of the colonies, the Spanish Treasury was impoverished and the production of quicksilver was practically zero, since the American silver mines were paralysed.
Faced with this situation, the government decided to lease the mines again, first to the House of Íñigo Ezpeleta and, later, to the House of Rothschild, with whom lease contracts would continue until the beginning of the 20th century.
Mercury was still essential in the metallurgy of noble metals; therefore, the main interest of the Rothschilds was to monopolise the world trade of quicksilver, which provided them with great profits, especially after the discovery of gold in California which would lead to the social phenomenon known as the Gold Rush.
3. Facsimile reproduction of the document of the Deed of the Agreement and mortgage obligation granted by Laureano Figuerola y Ballester, Minister of Finance, in favour of Ignacio Bauer, representative of Messrs. Rothschild and sons, of London, and Rothschild brothers, of Paris, on 20 May 1870; original document, Spain. Ministry of Culture, National Historical Archive, Contemporary Fonds, Almadén Mines, 2571."
1. Image: gold prospectors in California.
2. Explanation: At the beginning of the 19th century, as a consequence of the armed conflicts caused by the French occupation, the Carlist wars and the independence of the colonies, the Spanish Treasury was impoverished and the production of quicksilver was practically zero, since the American silver mines were paralysed.
Faced with this situation, the government decided to lease the mines again, first to the House of Íñigo Ezpeleta and, later, to the House of Rothschild, with whom lease contracts would continue until the beginning of the 20th century.
Mercury was still essential in the metallurgy of noble metals; therefore, the main interest of the Rothschilds was to monopolise the world trade of quicksilver, which provided them with great profits, especially after the discovery of gold in California which would lead to the social phenomenon known as the Gold Rush.
3. Facsimile reproduction of the document of the Deed of the Agreement and mortgage obligation granted by Laureano Figuerola y Ballester, Minister of Finance, in favour of Ignacio Bauer, representative of Messrs. Rothschild and sons, of London, and Rothschild brothers, of Paris, on 20 May 1870; original document, Spain. Ministry of Culture, National Historical Archive, Contemporary Fonds, Almadén Mines, 2571."
Measures
"Showcase:
length: 1.35m
width: 0.45m
height: 0.75m"
length: 1.35m
width: 0.45m
height: 0.75m"
Materials
Steel
Dating
2008
Author / Producer
Minas de Almadén
Illustrations
Original use
Present use
Museum
Original location
Mining Park.
Present location
Mercury Museum (Mining Park)
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses /collections/links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
www.parqueminerodealmaden.es
Submitted
AYUNTAMIENTO ALMADEN
Submitted by
Águeda Moyano & Alicia Escudero
Date Submitted
25. 4. 2022
Date Edited
Never