The art of glass shewing how to make all sorts of glass, crystal and enamel : likewise the making of pearls, precious stones, china and looking-glasses : to which is added, the method of painting on glass and enameling : also how to extract the colours from minerals, metals, herbs and flowers ... : illustrated with proper sculptures / written originally in French, by Mr. H. Blancourt, and now first translated into English ; with an appendix, containing exact instructions for making glass-eyes of all colours.

CHAP. CCXXIII. To Extract Scarlet-colour from Kerm-Berries, for making a Fine Lake.

THE Name of Kermes is purely Arabick, for in that Country these Berries grow on a small Tree, or Shrub, and from that their Native Soil, were transplanted into Spain, Portugal, Provence, and Languedoc, where they now are plentiful; several would perswade us, that 'tis a sort of Oak, called in Latin, Coccigera, but the Leaves which are prickled like those on Holly, only smaller, shews us the con∣trary.

These Grains, or Berries, have several other uses than in Painting, being of excellent Vertue in Phy∣sick: Of them the Apothecaries make their Syrop called Alkermes, and from the remainder of them which is left behind in the Strainer, they draw a substance for the Dyers, which is used in colouring of Stuffs.

Several ways may be given to extract the Tin∣cture of these Grains for making Lake; we'll on∣ly insist on two, the first is indifferent long, but very excellent, and produces a Tincture whereby i•• made a most admirable fine Lake.

The way of making the Lake in France, is very modern, and 'tis but of late they have had this Se∣cret in Paris, which was brought from Venice; now since few are familiar with it we are willing to pub∣lish this, that many may know how to Wor•• therein.

Take four Quarts of clear Water, and four Pound of Wheaten-Bran, two Drams of Oriental Piraster, and as much Foenugrec, set all in a Kettle over a Fire, till the Water be Milk-warm; keep your Hand in it until you can bear the heat no longer; then take it off, cover it with a Cloath, that the heat may con∣tinue the longer, let it repose for twenty four Hours, then run off the Lixivium, and keep it for the following purpose.

Get a clean Earthen-Pot, and put therein three Quarts of fair Water to half the Lixivium; order a Fire, and let this boil thereon, which when it be∣gins to do, put in an Ounce of the Grains pounded impalpably in a Brass-Mortar, and searced; then pound a little crude Tartar, to take off the remain∣ing parts of the Grains on the bottom and sides of your Mortar, and so put it in with the Grains; when the Water begins to boil again, take it off in an in∣stant, and set it to cool.

This done, and the Water cold, take the Shear∣ings prepared in the former Chapter, and let them stain therein about half an Hour: Afterwards squeeze it into another Pot by expression; and after you have thus drawn off all the Tincture, put the Shearings into the last Pot, stirring them about very well with a small Stick; that they may stain the sooner, boil all for about half an Hour over a small Fire, else the Tincture will become black, then take the Shearings out, and put them well tinged into a Vessel of cold Water; about half an Hour after pour off the Water gently, and so put fresh on again, then press and spread them to dry in a clean place, where no Dust can come at them.

This done make the following Lixivium. Put on a Hempen-cloath doubled, Vine-stalk-Ashes, or Ashe; of Willow, or some other lighter Wood; pour thereon, by degrees, cold Water, letting it strain

through into a Vessel set underneath; pour it again on the Ashes, and when it is all run through, set it to settle for twenty four Hours, that the Ashes which it carried off, may fall to the bottom; this done, pour the Lixivium by degrees, into another Vessel, rejecting the Sediment, put your Shearings into this, having warmed it: When it begins to be cold, let it boil over a gentle Fire, and it will be∣come red; take a little of the Shearings, press them well, and if it remains without colour, take off the Kettle immediately, for the Lixivium has extracted it entirely, spread a Linen-cloath o'er a Free-stone Bowl, set the Shearings therein, and pour on the Lixivium by little and little to strain and yield the Tincture, then squeeze the Cloath and the Shearings therein, to press out all the Colour that remained in them, throw away the Cloath, wash the Shear∣ings clean and keep them for the like use another time.

Then put twelve Ounces of Roch-Allom well pow∣dered, into a Glass Body full of cold Water, letting it dissolve quite; when this is perfectly done, spread a Linen-cloath over two Staves, and set underneath a large Free-stone Vessel, put all the Allom-Water into the Bottle of Tincture, and strain it afterwards through this Cloath; the Lixivium will go through it clear, and leave the Colour behind, but if it shou'd not be coloured, 'tis only straining it through again, and you'll have done.

Now to get the Tincture, you must mix all that remains on the Cloath, and gather it together, spread∣ing it afterwards over new-made Tiles (which have not yet been allowed time to moisten) on the pieces of Linen, then mold them into Troches to dry sud∣denly, without moulding, which wou'd spoil them; therefore you must take great care that the Tiles be not at all moist, and if so, to change them, that it

may dry the sooner, and thus you'll have a Lake of admirable colour for Painting; you must lessen, or improve the Colour as you find, by a greater or lesser quantity of Roch-Allom.