Name 1
POTTERY JUG WITH A MEASURING SCALE
Name 2
/
ID number
002.276.Idrija
Manager / Administrator
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-714
Type of Object
Mine, Smelting
Description
Short description
The jug is made of baked clay. It is coated with a shiny glaze on the inner and the outer side. The jug has two solid handles and has a vertical slot in the middle (length 4.7 cm and width 0.7 cm in the widest part). The object was probably used in the Smelting Plant for measuring the amount of Mercury. It could be filled with 1.5 litres of mercury up to the slot, which is about 20 kg.
Measures
Length 16 cm, width 26.5 cm, height 26 cm.
Materials
Baked clay
Dating
End of the 19th century
Author / Producer
Manufacturer information is not known.
Picture attachments
Original use
The pottery jug was most likely used in the Smelting Plant of the Idrija Mercury Mine for determining or measuring 1.5 litres of mercury. In the process of decanting the mercury into steel flasks, the main accessories were the larger cast iron vessel, in which the refined mercury was stored, measuring cylinder and scale for weighing and filling. In addition to the stated, this process also required some of the smaller accessories which were used to precisely fill the steel flasks for the sale of mercury. Besides the described pottery jug with a measuring scale, they also used a pottery vessel and a ladle.
Present use
The pottery jug was most likely used in the Smelting Plant of the Idrija Mercury Mine for determining or measuring 1.5 litres of mercury. In the process of decanting the mercury into steel flasks, the main accessories were the larger cast iron vessel, in which the refined mercury was stored, measuring cylinder and scale for weighing and filling. In addition to the stated, this process also required some of the smaller accessories which were used to precisely fill the steel flasks for the sale of mercury. Besides the described pottery jug with a measuring scale, they also used a pottery vessel and a ladle.
Original location
The Smelting Plant of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Gewerkenegg Castle (showroom 9).
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
At the bottom, the jug is slightly damaged, a smaller part of the glaze is missing. A conservation procedure was performed on the object. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is taken care of.
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;
- Kavčič, Ivica. Živo srebro: Zgodovina idrijskega žgalništva. Založba Bogataj, Idrija, 2008;
- Giumlia-Mair, Alessandra. Načini žganja rude v Idriji od 16. do 18. stoletja. Idrijski razgledi, 1, 2009, p. 77‒83;
- Zelenc, Anton. Razvoj žgalniških peči pri Rudniku živega srebra Idrija. Muzejski list no. 17, Idrija Municipal Museum, 2008.
- Kavčič, Ivica. Živo srebro: Zgodovina idrijskega žgalništva. Založba Bogataj, Idrija, 2008;
- Giumlia-Mair, Alessandra. Načini žganja rude v Idriji od 16. do 18. stoletja. Idrijski razgledi, 1, 2009, p. 77‒83;
- Zelenc, Anton. Razvoj žgalniških peči pri Rudniku živega srebra Idrija. Muzejski list no. 17, Idrija Municipal Museum, 2008.
Submitted
Mestni muzej Idrija
Submitted by
Miha Kosmač
Date Submitted
12. 3. 2018
Date Edited
Never