A method of casting extraordinarily thin brass statues
Date
29 August 1686
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
vol10 p460a
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 195mm
width (page): 137mm
width (page): 137mm
Subject
Description
A figure explaining how to cast a bronze statue in a letter by Johann Weikhard (1641-1693), Freiherr von Valvasor, dated 29 August 1686 [N.S.]. This account was read at the Royal Society on 1 December 1686, when Hooke pointed out that the casting method itself was well-known, but that the composition of the metal (the addition of 1/3 of bismuth or zinc) was what made it possible to cast a thinner statue. The account was printed in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 16, no. 186 (1687).
This figure is copied from LBO/10/345a.
This figure is copied from LBO/10/345a.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 1 December 1686, ‘A letter of John Weichard Valvasor of Carniola to Dr. Gale, dated at Wagensperg in Carniola, Aug. 29 1686, N.S. was read, containing a method of casting brass statues of an extraordinary thinness, which, as was alledged by Mr. Hooke, was according to the process commonly used; the only invention consisting in the addition of a third part of bismuth or zink to his brass, whereby it would be made to run much better, and by consequence cast a thinner statue. This letter was delivered to Dr. Aglionby, who was desired to consider well of it, and inform himself in the practice of our artificers, in order to return an answer’ (Birch 4:510).
Printed in J. Weickhard, ‘Method of casting statues on metal, together with an invention of his for making such cast statues of an extraordinary thinnes beyond any thing hitherto known,’ Phil. Trans. vol. 16, no. 186 (January, February and March, 1687), pp. 259-62, fig. 1.
Printed in J. Weickhard, ‘Method of casting statues on metal, together with an invention of his for making such cast statues of an extraordinary thinnes beyond any thing hitherto known,’ Phil. Trans. vol. 16, no. 186 (January, February and March, 1687), pp. 259-62, fig. 1.
Related fellows
Johann Weikhard von Valvasor (1641 - 1693, Austrian) , Natural historian
Associated place