Name 1
BARREL FOR MIXING MERCURY AND SULFUR
Name 2
/
ID number
002.292.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-43
Type of Object
Mine, Smelting
Description
Short description
The barrel served for the dry procedure for obtaining cinnabar. It is made from wood and reinforced with four steel bands. It has a steel axle, which allows the barrel to rotate. The barrel has an opening for mercury and sulfur dosage, which is covered with the cover secured with two screws. Its volume is approximately 13 litres. Colloquially in Idrija, because of its function the little barrel for mixing was called the “black negro”.
Measures
Length 76 cm, width 36 cm, height 36 cm.
Materials
Wood, steel.
Dating
1782
Author / Producer
The Cinnabar Factory of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Picture attachments
Original use
In certain conditions, the artificial cinnabar was obtained with mercury and sulfur synthesis. The first phase of this process was mixing mercury (25 kg) and powdered sulfur (5 kg) in the barrel. The latter had partitions inside which served for better stirring. With the eccentric drive it was possible for the barrel to rotate around the horizontal axis in both directions and thoroughly stir the contents. After four hours of stirring, the homogeneous black mass (“Mohr”) was formed. This was a mixture of black sulfide (HgS) and unreacted, nicely mutually distributed mercury and sulfur. After the stirring process, the black mass was poured from two barrels into a 50-litre cast iron jug. In Idrija, cinnabar was obtained from the beginning of mining until 1922, with an interruption between 1658 and 1782. During that time, 8,800 tons of mercury was obtained, which is 6.6% of the total amount of mercury obtained in Idrija.
Present use
The barrel for mercury is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. The barrel is a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. Visitors can view it within the permanent museum exhibition “Five Centuries of the Mercury Mine and the Town of Idrija”. It can also be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.
Original location
Idrija Mercury Mine (The Cinnabar Factory, on the left side of the Smelting Plant complex)
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Gewerkenegg Castle (showroom 9).
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The barrel was properly restored and conserved. Therefore, no additional interventions are 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;
- Janouš, Alois, senior furnace supervisor (k. k. Oberhüttenverwalter). Geschichtliche Entwicklung
der Zinnoberfabrikation in Idria, Ad B. D. Z. 4521 de 1897;
- Janouš, Alois, senior furnace supervisor (k. k. Oberhüttenverwalter). Darstellung des Zinnobers in
Idria in der Gegenwart, Ad B. D. Z. 4521 de 1897;
- Kavčič, Ivica. Živo srebro: Zgodovina idrijskega žgalništva. Založba Bogataj, Idrija, 2008;
- Kavčič, Ivica. Proizvodnja živosrebrovih spojin pri idrijskem rudniku skozi stoletja. Idrijski razgledi, 61/2, 2016, p. 60–76.
- Janouš, Alois, senior furnace supervisor (k. k. Oberhüttenverwalter). Geschichtliche Entwicklung
der Zinnoberfabrikation in Idria, Ad B. D. Z. 4521 de 1897;
- Janouš, Alois, senior furnace supervisor (k. k. Oberhüttenverwalter). Darstellung des Zinnobers in
Idria in der Gegenwart, Ad B. D. Z. 4521 de 1897;
- Kavčič, Ivica. Živo srebro: Zgodovina idrijskega žgalništva. Založba Bogataj, Idrija, 2008;
- Kavčič, Ivica. Proizvodnja živosrebrovih spojin pri idrijskem rudniku skozi stoletja. Idrijski razgledi, 61/2, 2016, p. 60–76.
Submitted
Mestni muzej Idrija
Submitted by
Miha Kosmač
Date Submitted
12. 3. 2018
Date Edited
Never