A magnificent and rare large specimen of Alum contained in an antique glass dome
A magnificent and rare large specimen of Alum contained in an antique glass dome
Mid 19th CENTURY
Size: 48cm high
Mid 19th CENTURY
Size: 48cm high
Alum is a colourless astringent compound, which is a hydrated double
sulphate of aluminium and potassium. It is used in solution in dying
and tanning. Before the advent of chemical dyes alum was an important and precious
compound used mainly for fixing dyes in leather. The large amount of
alum represented in this sample was worth a considerable sum in the
19th century and earlier. The large size of this rare example would have taken many weeks to make, literally growing layer upon layer very gradually. This piece was brought back here from Australia and has a label with the legend 'Alum Australia. C. 1860'
sulphate of aluminium and potassium. It is used in solution in dying
and tanning. Before the advent of chemical dyes alum was an important and precious
compound used mainly for fixing dyes in leather. The large amount of
alum represented in this sample was worth a considerable sum in the
19th century and earlier. The large size of this rare example would have taken many weeks to make, literally growing layer upon layer very gradually. This piece was brought back here from Australia and has a label with the legend 'Alum Australia. C. 1860'
A magnificent and rare large specimen of Alum contained in an antique glass dome
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