Lot 322: Kunckel, Johann

Kunckel, Johann
Ars vitraria experimentalis, oder Vollkommene Glasmacher-Kunst. Frankfurt and Leipzig: Christoph Reigel, 1689
4to (7 7/8 x 6 in.; 200 x 152 mm). Engraved portrait, frontispiece and 20 plates, woodcut illustrations in the text; some discoloration of text, occasionally heavy, not affecting plates, one plate with old manuscript annotation in lower margin. Old vellum, armorial stamp in gilt on upper cover, green silk ties, label on spine; spine chipped at head.
The second edition of this classic work on glass-making, containing one of the earliest descriptions of synthetic ruby production for cut-stone purposes. "Kunckel's treatise... incorporates his German translation of Antonio Neri's L'Arte vetraria, which he had made from Frisius' Latin version, (1668) of Christopher Merrett's annotated English translation. Kunckel preserved Merrett's extensive notes and added a section on the making of colored glass (including the important recipe for gold ruby glass), faience and cast models. His book is especially valuable for its illustrations, the most interesting of which shows a glass-blower's lamp worked by pedal bellows" (Normann).
References: Duveen 328; Norman 1:1244 (both citing first editions)
Provenance: Freyherr von Clam Wolf Christoff (stamp on upper cover)