One thousand valuable secrets, in the elegant and useful arts: collected from the practice of the best artists, and containing an account of the various methods of engraving on brass, copper and steel. Of the composition of metals ... And a variety of other curious, entertaining and useful articles.

Uittreksel

The book consists of secrets which “have resulted from repeated experiments made by the first artists in England, France, Italy and Germany and which open an extensive field for the exercise of American ingenuity and improvement.” Chapters are as follows: engraving; metals; composition of varnishes; of mastics, cements, sealing-wax; of the art of glass-manufactory; concerning colors and painting; the art of gilding; the art of dying wood, bones, etc., the art of casting in moulds; making curious and useful sorts of ink; wine; vinegars; liquors and essential oils; confectionary; snuff; taking out spots and stains, etc.

Inhoud

Of the art of engraving, 1 -- Of metals, 11 -- Of the composition of varnishes, 45 -- Of mastichs, cements, sealing-wax, &c. &c., 68 -- Of the art of glass manufactory, and the making compositions to imitate precious stones, commonly known, in this country, by the name of French paste, 76 -- Concerning colors and painting, 111 -- Relative to the art of gilding, 192 -- The art of dying woods, bones, &c., 213 -- Of the art of casting in moulds, 233 -- Of making curious and useful sorts of ink, 244 -- Relative to wine, 264 -- Concerning the composition of vinegars, 275 -- Of liquors and essential oils, 280 -- Relative to the confectionary business, 315 -- Relative to the art of preparing snuff, 351 -- Of the art of taking out spots and stains, 357 -- The art of fishing, angling, bird-catching, &c., 366 -- Relative to subjects entertaining, and useful, 371.