Capitolo 80
flat original. The trial as described by Theophilus it is as it follows:
"Composes the niello in this way; takes pure silvers and divides
it in equal parts, adding to him a third part of pure copper,
and taking yellow sulphur, breaks him/it very small... and when You
you/he/she has liquefied the silver with the copper, you uniformly mix him/it with
coal, and it immediately pours in him lead and sulphur." This niello
pasta is made then in a baton, and heated until "it burns: then
with another forceps, long and it becomes bald, holds the niello and you rub him/it
all on the places that you desire to do black, up to that the sketch
is full, and transporting him/it from the fire, face what it smooths with a
I file flat, until the silver it appears." When Theophilus has ended
his/her directions, he adds: "And he takes the great care that no further job
it is in demand." To smooth the niello, he directs us for "to clean him/it
with a stone of damp, until you/he/she is done everywhere bright."
There are the various accounts of as Finiguerra that was a worker
in niello in Florence, it discovered from his it intends the steel art
engraving. It is only probably a legendary account, but it is
it always said as one of the apocryphal histories when the origin of
stamping is discussed, and you/he/she cannot be here out of place. Maso
Finiguerra, a Florentine had engraved only the dish for his famous
niello, a Pax what time you/he/she will be seen in the Bargello and it had
fills him/it in with I enamel him/it fluid that was being standing that waits
until you/he/she should be dry. Then, according to of the authorities, a
piece of paper blew on the surface of damp on that, later attentively
removing him/it, Maso founded his/her sketch you/he/she was thrilled; others the state that
it was through the servant you/he/she is placing a cloth of damp on him, that
the principle to stamp from an engraved dish was suggested.
In every case, took Finiguerra the suggestion, is said, and it did a
impression on paper, rolling him/it, as one would do with a corrosion