Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija
Local / Original ID Number
510:IDR;RZ-441
Type of Object
Mine
Description
Short description
The protective mask against mercury vapours, which covers the entire face, is quite advanced. It has the following components: nose and mouth shield, eyes are protected with lenses. It is fastened with head straps. The filter has a cylindrical shape and is grey with black straps. There is a manufacturer’s inscription on the filter, that contains model data (DIRIN 500 S) and a recommendation for use: “VAPORI DI MERCURIO. DA USARE IN ATMOSFERA CON NON MENO DEL 17 % DI O2”.
Measures
Length 18 cm, width 8 cm, height 30 cm.
Materials
Aluminium, rubber, leather, glass.
Dating
Second half of the 20th century.
Author / Producer
Pirelli, Rome, Italy.
Picture attachments
Original use
The protective mask served as miners’ protection against mercury vapours and other harmful gases. The Idrija Mercury Mine workers were exposed to those vapours and gases in the pit and the smelting plant. Due to the numerous cases of poisoning among miners and smelters, in the first twenty years after 1945, the first protective measures were shorter working hours (6) and worker exchange. After 1975, carbon shale excavation was increased in the Idrija ore deposit. It was rich with native mercury, which evaporated and poisoned pit air. On these worksites and in the smelting plant, the Idrija Mercury Mine implemented numerous measures for raising healthcare awareness of employees: introducing personal protective means, mercury concentration measurements and the use of calcium polysulfide solution – CaSn on the worksites, pit ventilation, healthcare control etc.
Present use
The protective mask is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. It is stored in the depot. It may be used for temporary museum exhibitions and various forms of promotion mercury heritage.
Original location
The Pit and the Smelting Plant of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The objects are appropriately preserved, with the exception of the rubber part of the object RZ-433, which is slightly decayed. This part should be restored. Security of the premises is ensured.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum;
- Kobal, Alfred Bogomir, Dizdarevič, Tatjana. Varstvo delavcev, izpostavljenih živemu srebru v Rudniku živega srebra Idrija po drugi svetovni vojni. Idrijski razgledi, 41/2, 1996, p. 15–27.