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-242, RZ-245
Type of Object
Mine, Smelting
Description
Short description
The dosing vessel has a pear-shaped bowl with an opening on top and a discharge tube at the bottom. The tube is conical. The tube, with 12/7.5 mm in diameter, is installed from the sphere, and it served as an air vent. The upper tube has the following scale: 20, 10, 10, 20 mm, 34.5 kg Hg, + 15 °Cels. The larger laboratory vessel RZ-242 is mounted on the smaller vessel RZ-245, during the time of its use.
Measures
RZ-242 – diameter 17 cm, height 5.8 cm; RZ-245 - diameter 4.7 cm, height 15.8 cm.
Materials
Glass.
Dating
Second half of the 20th century.
Author / Producer
Dr H. Geissler Nachfolger Franz Müller, Bonn.
Picture attachments
Original use
The described items were used in the mine laboratory for dosing liquids. They could also be used in the process of mercury filling. In the 1980s, the economic crisis started and at the Idrija Mercury Mine they tried to ease it. Among others, they introduced the packaging of smaller quantities of purified mercury in polyethylene vessels, since they made lot of more money if it was packed this way. Primarily dental organisations were interested in it. The main client was the company Interdent from Celje. The preparation of mercury for this purpose was performed in such a way that mercury was mechanically purified in the mine laboratory by pouring it through several vessels. It was also poured through the funnel, which had a 1mm opening at the bottom of the extended tube. All impurities were stopped on the glass surface and pure mercury poured through the opening. The latter was weighed and packed into plastic bottles from 100 g to 5 kg, depending on the customer requirements.
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. One of the items (RZ-242) is located in the depot and can be used for temporary museum exhibitions. Visitors can view the other described item within the permanent museum exhibitions under “Tracing Mercury: Idrija-Almadén”. At the same time, both objects can 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; Idrija Municipal Museum, Gewerkenegg Castle (Tracing Mercury: Idrija-Almadén, 4th showroom).
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
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;
- Ivica Kavčič: Živo srebro. Zgodovina idrijskega žgalništva. Založba Bogataj, Idrija, 2008.