Name 1
GLASS BOTTLES WITH CINNABAR (COLLECTION)
Name 2
/
ID number
002.300.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-22, RZ-23, RZ-24, RZ-25, RZ-26, RZ-27
Type of Object
Mine, Smelting
Description
Short description
The described objects are round. Two bottle dimensions prevail. These have a narrower neck and a plug with a hexagonal edge on top. The bottles have the following inscriptions on them: RZ-22 Zwickau S; RZ-23 September 1882, Versuch itd.; RZ-24 1882, Versuch itd.; RZ-25 Stuttgart Carminzinober 2; RZ-26 6. november 1882, Versuch No. G2 etc. Around the bottle neck a red and white string is tied; RZ-27 Stuttgart Carminzinober 00.
Measures
Diameter 4.6–5.5 cm, height 9.4–12 cm.
Materials
Glass, string, cinnabar, paper.
Dating
1882
Author / Producer
The Cinnabar Factory (laboratory) of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Picture attachments
Original use
Cinnabar is mercury sulfide – HgS. This is a compound of divalent mercury and sulfur. The compound is very durable and insoluble in all acids except in aqua regia. Natural cinnabar is finely ground, very rich and clean cinnabar ore. Synthetic cinnabar is obtained with mercury and sulfur synthesis under precisely determined conditions. It has a nice red colour with a wider range of shades. In Idrija, cinnabar was obtained from the beginning of mining until 1922, with an interruption between 1658 and 1782. During all that time, 8,800 tons of mercury was obtained, which is 6.6% of the total amount of mercury obtained in Idrija. The last 400 kg of cinnabar was ground into vermilion and thus stopped its production. Samples RZ-24 and RZ-26 were, according to the inscription, obtained with a wet procedure.
Present use
The described objects are being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. They are a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. Visitors can view them within the permanent museum exhibition “Five Centuries of the Mercury Mine and the Town of Idrija”. They can also be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.
Original location
The Cinnabar Factory (laboratory) of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Gewerkenegg Castle (showroom 9).
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
Objects are well preserved and conserved appropriately. 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;
- 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
13. 3. 2018
Date Edited
Never