Die Glasschmelzkunst, bey der Lampe, oder, Anweisung wie die Glasröhren zu schmelzen und daraus allerley Figuren zu blasen sind. Desgleichen wie die Wettergläser bestmöglichst zu verfertigen. J. d. B. Nebst einem Kupferstich.
Wien: gedruckt mit Schulzischen Schriften, 1769. First edition. In contemporary leather. Spine gilt, with red title vignette. Edges tinted. Woodcut headpiece on A1. Pages ruled with woodcut frame. (*)1 [title page, verso blank], a–b8, c6 [i.e. (24) leaves] and 1 folded plate. Light brown stains on the plate. Otherwise clean. In fine condition.
A curious and scarce treatise on glassblowing and the making of scientific glass objects.
The book is illustrated with an engraved plate, showing a glassmaker or lampworker at his working table, surrounded by examples of his craft, various scientific apparatuses, a Cartesian devil, a glass eye, and elaborate glass-figurines and a centerpiece, whose technique of making, together with the detailed instruction for manufacturing thermometers, hydrometers, barometers is described in the text.
The author of Die Glasschmelzkunst remained unrevealed, hidden behind the initials of “J. d. B”. The second edition was published under different initials of “A. Z. G” (Brünn: Tascher, 1824). Both editions are often attributed erroneously to Karl Moritz Diesing (1800–1867). Duncan in the Bibliography of Glass attributes it to Disting.
Duncan 3269.
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Price: €3,000.00