Biringuccio Collection

Charcoal burning, 1540. Building a pyramid of wood (right) to be covered with bracken and earth, then slowly burned (left) to produce charcoal

Using bellows to increase the draught in a furnace, 1540. Woodcut showing a workman using bellows to increase the draught in a furnace for refining copper

Blast furnaces, 1540. Woodcut showing different forms of blast furnace, with bellows supplying draught powered by an overshot water wheel

Different forms of blast furnace. Bellows supplying draught are powered by overshot water wheel. From Vannocio Biringuccio De la Pirotechnia, Venice 1540

Using bellows to increase draught in furnace for refining copper. Note cupellation cakes of partially refined copper beneath the bellows. From Vannocio Biringuccio De la Pirotechnia, Venice 1540

Charcoal burning: Building pyramid of wood (right) to be covered with bracken and earth, then slowly burned (left) to produce charcoal. Superior to charcoal produced in pits

Moulds for making fire tubes. These were fired from cannon, either at enemy forces or for setting fire to wooden gates. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540). Woodcut

Pikes and lances fitted with small fire tubes which, when lit, propelled the missiles towards the enemy. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540). Woodcut

Shafts of a cannon boring machine with drilling bits on the end. The machine was powered by a treadmill, left. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540). Woodcut

Boring cannon. In the left foreground is a two-man treadmill and in the right background is a handmill. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540). Woodcut

Fire tubes being fired at enemy cavalry from cannon. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540). Woodcut

Charcoal burning: Pit being filled with wood (right) covered with earth and bracken, then slowly burned to produce charcoal. Inferior to charcoal burned in heaps

Making a wooden pattern from which moulds for casting gun barrels could be formed in sand. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

Man operating bellows to increase the draught to a furnace. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540). Metallurgy. Pneumatics

Reverberatory furnace for smelting metals. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice)
Reverberatory furnace for smelting metals. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

Brass furnace, showing tongs for lifting crucibles of metal in and out. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

Distillation of alcohol (aqua vitae). Distillation took place in an alembic set over a furnace. The distillate was discharged through spout into a work in a bath of cold water

Goldbeaters preparing a thin duplex sheet of silver and gold to be cut into strips and used to cover thread to produce spun gold. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

Condensing mercury vapour that has been distilled from mercury-bearing ore. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

Smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice)
Smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

Mercury. Extracting mercury from ore by placing ore covered by sand and ashes in an eartheware pot on stand with a fire underneath. The mercury was retrieved from the bottom of the pot after cooling

Heating mercury-bearing ore and recovering mercury by distillation. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

Assay laboratory, showing muffle furnace and balance, left. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio Biringuccio (Venice, 1540)

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"Biringuccio: Mastering the Art of Metallurgy and Pyrotechnics in 1540" Step into the world of Biringuccio, a brilliant innovator ahead of his time. In an era where charcoal burning was essential for fuel, he revolutionized the process with his expertise. With bellows in hand, he skillfully increased the draught in furnaces to achieve optimal results. But Biringuccio's genius didn't stop there; he delved into blast furnaces, exploring their different forms and harnessing their power. Utilizing overshot water wheels to power bellows, he elevated metallurgical practices to new heights. Refining copper became an art under Biringuccio's guidance as he employed bellows once again to intensify the furnace's draught. Notably, cupellation played a crucial role in this process - a testament to his meticulous attention to detail. Charcoal burning took on a whole new dimension as Biringuccio constructed pyramids of wood covered with bracken and earth. This innovative technique ensured efficient combustion while minimizing waste. Intriguingly, Biringuccio even ventured into weaponry advancements. He crafted molds for fire tubes fired from cannons at enemy forces - an ingenious tactic that changed warfare forever. Pikes and lances fitted with small fire tubes propelled fiery missiles towards adversaries with devastating impact. The machinery behind cannon production fascinated him too; shafts of cannon boring machines equipped with drilling bits showcased his dedication to precision engineering. Alongside these impressive contraptions stood two-man treadmills tirelessly powering them forward. Boring cannons became another area where Biringuccio left his mark - refining techniques that would shape military history forever. His relentless pursuit of innovation knew no bounds as he constantly sought ways to improve upon existing technologies. From De la pirotechnia by Vannoccio himself emerged vivid depictions of fire tubes being launched at enemy cavalry from cannons.