Publikationsrepositorium - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

The provenance of at least five out of seven variously colored glass beakers in the collection of the Naturalienkabinett Waldenburg (Saxony) indicates their relation to the famous glass chemist Johann Kunckel. The technological characteristics of four corner-cut glasses, which show a ruby-rose, transparent blue-green, transparent dark purple, respectively an opaque striated brownish-red color, are described. Crizzling phenomena, cracking due to frozen strains and inhomogeneous coloring were closer examined with a light microscope and under a short-wave UV-lamp.
Combined simultaneous PIXE and PIGE analysis conducted at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf allowed the detection of all glass constituents from lead up to boron in elemental concentrations above c. 0.01 w%. Different types of potassium-rich crystal glasses with varying amounts of calcium, arsenic and lead were found. There is evidence for the use of highly refined raw materials and the addition of various ionic and colloidal glass colorants.
The Waldenburg beakers seem to be early examples of Kunckel’s experimental efforts to establish elevated standards for the production of luxury glass in northern Europe, as additionally supported by accounts in his publications from the years between 1678 and 1716.