The cup is oval and has straight and sanded edge. Its diameter is narrower at the bottom, and it spreads evenly towards the top. The wooden holders have four wells (44 mm in diameter), where the cups are inserted.
Measures
Cups: Length 5.4 cm, width 5.4 cm, height 6.4–6.5 cm; Holders: length 22.4–22.7 cm, width 11.9–12.1 cm, height 3.2–3.4 cm.
Materials
Ceramics, wood.
Dating
The time of creation is unknown.
Author / Producer
Manufacturer information is not known.
Picture attachments
Original use
Ceramics cups were one of the devices in Eschka’s analysis of mercury in cinnabar ores in the laboratory of the Idrija Mercury Mine. That analysis was especially useful for the analysis of low-quality ores. In every cup, first the sample of finely ground and weighed ore was inserted. Half of the weight of clean iron flakes was added. The cup was then covered with the weighed concave cover made of pure gold. Distilled water was poured in the recess. The contents of the cup were then heated for 10 minutes, so that the mercury evaporated. The process was followed by washing, drying, heating, cooling and weighing of the content on the concave side of the cup cover. A wooden handle was used for transporting hot cups. The Idria Mine set the chemistry laboratory on the spot where cinnabar factory once stood.
Present use
The described items (seven in total) 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. They are located in the depot and can be used for temporary museum exhibitions. They can also be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.
Original location
Laboratory of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The objects are properly conserved. 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.