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. CCXLV. Another Way to make these Pearls.

THIS is an easier way than the former, for by Baking them, (as we shall shew) you very much shorten the time which the Preparation would else take up; however you must not expect them so De∣licate and Natural as the first, the Cause whereof is easie enough conceived; for these Pearl having en∣larged themselves in the Water, as we already no∣ted, 'tis reasonable to believe the hardning them af∣terwards in the Cold, will be of a much more Na∣tural Effect, than if done with heat.

Take very fair Oriental Seed Pearl for this pur∣pose, and reduce it to impalpable Powder on a Mar∣ble,

to dissolve afterwards in Mercury-Water, or clarified Juice of Lemons; if this be not effected quick enough, set it in a Cucurbit over warm Ashes, and be very careful to take the Cream (which in a little time will appear at top) immediately off, so withdraw the Dissolution from the Fire, and let it settle a little; this done, pour it gently into ano∣ther Glass Body, and keep it a-part, you'll have the Pearl in a Paste at the bottom, with which fill your gilded Plate Moulds, made to what bigness, or form you think fit, pressing the Paste with the Silver Spa∣tula, and so shut them up four and twenty Hours; after you must take and bore them through with a Porker's Bristle, close up the Moulds, and leave them in the Oven in a Paste of Barly Dough, which being half Baked draw out and open, taking away all the Pearl, and steep them in the Dissolution just before directed to be kept a-part, putting them in and out several times; so close them in their Moulds and Bake them again with the like Paste as before, only let this last be almost burnt up before you draw it out; thus you'll have the Pearl well baked and hardned.

This done, draw it out, open all the Moulds, take away the Pearls and string them on one or more Gold or Silver Threads; steep them in Mercury-Water, given in the former Chapter, for about a Fortnight; after this dry them by the Sun in a well closed Glass Body, so you'll have very fine and splen∣did Pearl.